INFUSORIAL ANIMALCULES. 21 



malcules belonging to this class. The preceding cut, Fig. 7, is, however, given at 

 present for the sake of illustration. It displays the upper part of a common wheel- 

 animalcule, with the circles of cilia, jaws, teeth, and eyes, all highly magnified. 



The Rotatoria reside chiefly in water, but are frequently found in moist earth, 

 and some species have been detected dwelling in the cells of mosses and sea-weed. 



EYES. By the aid of the microscope as now perfected, naturalists have dis- 

 covered eyes throughout the entire class of Rotatorial animalcules ; and likewise 

 in many kinds of the Polygastrica. A fact that indicates the existence of a ner- 

 vous system in these living atoms. The eye of larger animals is known to be an 

 organ exceedingly complicated in its structure, and replete with the most beauti- 

 ful contrivances to insure perfect vision. There is every reason for believing that 

 the same is true of the eyes of animalcules ; and if this is so, how can we suffi- 

 ciently admire the wondrous perfection and consummate skill which the Creator 

 has deigned to bestow upon some of the least of his revealed works ; and above 

 all, the unwearied benevolence displayed in every manifestation of His infinite 

 power ! Beginning with the Monad, and examining the Infusorial world from 

 the smallest upward, the Microglena is the first which is found to possess a visual 

 organ. This living point is sometimes less than the two-thousandth part of an 

 inch in size, yet it is gifted with a beautiful eye of a crimson hue, wherein the 

 scenes of its own little world are doubtless as faithfully mirrored, as are within 

 our eyes the wide range of objects upon which we gaze. The Polygastrica have 

 usually but one eye, and are only in a few cases possessed of two. The eyes of 

 the Rotatoria are generally red, and most of the animalcules belonging to this 

 class have two of these organs. In some three are perceived ; while one kind 

 especially has the benefit of seven or eight on each side of the head. A diver- 

 sity exists in the arrangement of the eyes ; in many instances they are placed in 

 a line, side by side, in others they form a triangle. In some animalcules they 

 are arranged in a circle, and in two species they unite in clusters on each side of 

 the head. 



REPRODUCTION. Animalcules multiply in several ways. First, they proceed 

 from eggs. Secondly, they are brought forth alive. Thirdly, they increase by 

 the growth of buds issuing from the body of the parent ; the buds sprouting out 

 and becoming themselves perfectly organized animalcules. Lastly, they are 

 propagated by self-division, the body of an animalcule separating into two or 

 more individual beings. 



The same animalcule is not always confined to a single mode of reproduction, 

 but its countless offspring may come into existence by one or more of the ways 

 just detailed ; one part being produced by self-division, another from eggs, and 

 the remainder originating in buds. This circumstance accounts for the amazing 

 fecundity of the Infusoria, which almost surpasses belief; even when limited to 

 one method of increase. The Rotatorial animalcules are propagated from eggs 

 alone, and but a few of these are deposited at a time ; yet so quickly are the 



