CROWN ANIMALCULE. 



129 



are beautifully feathered 

 with cilia, and are 

 capable of being folded 

 up like the petals of a 

 tulip. All the active 

 functions of life may 

 be seen in operation 

 through the transparent, 

 gelatinous envelope in 

 which this creature is 

 enclosed. Although 



fixed to one place, its 

 maelstrom-like currents 

 swirl into its fate-like 

 grasp crowds of active 

 little infusoria. The 

 power of sudden con- 

 tractility possessed by 

 all these sessile rotifers 

 is very remarkable. As 

 you witness the with- 

 drawal or collapse of 

 the ciliated arms you 

 are almost startled, and 

 dart back from the tube 

 of the microscope which 

 is revealing the fact, as 

 if a gun had been fired 

 near you ! Even some of 



Fig. 90. 



The Crown Animalcule (Stephana- 

 ceres eichornii). 



K 



