52 VIEWS OF THE MICROSCOPIC WORLD. 



THE HORNWORT LIMNIAS, or WATER NYMPH. This animalcule, like the one 

 immediately preceding, is enclosed in a cylindrical case, which, at first, is white 

 and transparent ; but afterwards assumes a brownish hue. The matter com- 

 posing the case is glutinous, and extraneous particles often form a coating upon 

 its smooth surface. Unlike the Melicerta, its rotatory organ is divided into two 

 leaves only, fringed with vibrating cilia. 



The Limnias has two red eyes, which can only be discerned when the animal- 

 cule is very young. These organs, together with the jaws, may be seen 

 in the Limnias in the egg, before it has burst the transparent shell. In 

 figure 73, a group of these interesting Infusoria are delineated as they ap- 

 pear attached to a stem of horn wort ; a plant of which they are so fond that they 

 have been designated by its name. The several individuals are here seen more 

 or less protruded from their cases ; for, like the rest of the flower-wheel animal- 

 cules, to which they belong, they are endowed with the power of extending 

 themselves beyond the margin of their cases, and of shrinking completely within 

 them. The parent animalcule ( a ) has its wheelwork fully protruded ; its jaws 

 and teeth are apparent at 6, and within the sheath a row of eggs (cccc) are visible. 

 In figure 74, a young Limnias is represented as it appears when just es- Fi e- 74 - 

 caped from the egg ; in this minute specimen the jaws and teeth, and 

 the two red eye-specks are clearly perceived at a and 6. The length of the 

 Limnias is about one-twentieth of an inch, and that of the case one half 

 the size of the animalcule. 



THE ELEGANT FLOWER-SHAPED ANIMALCULE. Another type of the flower- 

 shaped animalcule, and which, from its beauty, has received the* above name, 

 is represented in figures 7 5 and 76, upon the stem of a water-plant. It is 

 enclosed in a delicate and flexible crystalline case (a) and its rotary organ is 

 divided! into six leaves, (6 6) from the ends of which brushes, formed of very 

 long filaments, project. This creature is capable of expanding and contracting 

 itself to a very great extent ; for at one time it can thrust out nearly the whole 

 of its body beyond its sheath, as seen in figure 75 ; and at another conceal 

 itself completely within, leaving nothing but the long cilia projecting without, 

 as displayed in figure 76. In extending itself, the flower-shaped animalcule 

 moves slowly ; but its contraction is quickly performed ; and in effecting this 

 change in its shape, the animalcule not only shortens its body, but also the flex- 

 ible case, which gathers down upon itself in circular folds. They are very vora- 

 cious creatures, feeding upon great numbers of monads, and the little ship- 

 animalcules, which can often be distinctly seen within the stomach, as shown at 

 c. The position of the jaws and teeth, with which they crush and tear their prey, 

 is indicated by the letter e ; and their structure and arrangement are apparent 

 in figure 77, which represents this formidable apparatus very highly magnified. 

 In figure 76, a young animalcule, with its two eyes, is seen at/, in the envelope 

 containing the eggs of the parent. The size of the Flower-shaped animalcule 

 is about the one-one hundred and eighth part of an inch. 



