LECTURE XII. 219 



immediately perceived. From a single stem pro- 

 ceed, at various distances, several smaller ramifica- 

 tions, each terminated by an apparent flower, like 

 that of a Convolvulus, and furnished on the op- 

 posite edges, with a pair of filaments resembling 

 stamina. The whole is in the highest degree 

 transparent, and perfectly resembles the finest 

 glass; while the varying motions of the seeming 

 flowers, expanding and contracting occasionally, 

 -and turning themselves in different directions, 

 afford a scene so singularly curious as to be num- 

 bered among the finest spectacles which the Mi- 

 croscope is capable of exhibiting. Each animal, 

 though seated on the common stem, is complete 

 in itself, and possesses the power of detaching 

 itself from the stem, and forming a fresh colony 

 from itself. 



To the genus Vorticella also belongs the cele- 

 brated Animalcule called the Wheel- Animal, from 

 the appearance which the head in some particular 

 .positions exhibits; as if furnished with a pair of 

 toothed wheels, in rapid motion: this animalcule, 

 which is called Vorticella rotatoria,has long ago been 

 pretty well described and figured by Baker in his 

 work on the Microscope : it is of a lengthened shape, 

 and of a pale brown colour, and is of such a size 



