THE SHORES OF BPvITAIN. 2? 



walking among the brandies or leaves of the confervce 

 or fuel, amongst which they delight to dwell ; and 

 when shook out from their hiding-places into a bottle 

 or tumbler of water, they may be seen to fall in 

 gyrations to the bottom, without ever attemj)ting to 

 dart through the watery element, as is the case with 

 the Cyprides. Upon reaching the bottom they open 

 their shells, and creep along the surface of the glass ; 

 but when touched or shaken, they immediately again 

 withdraw themselves within their sliell, and remain 

 motionless."* The Cyprides, here alluded to in com- 

 parison, are species very closely resembling these, 

 inhabiting abundantly every stagnant ditch and pool 

 of fresh water. They have their antennae and feet 

 beautifully feathered with long fringed bristles, by 

 aid of which they swim with much vivacity. In 

 exactly similar situations to those above described 

 are found other Entomostraca, marine species of 

 *,he genus Cyclops, almost equally minute, and equally 

 mteresting. Like their kindred of the same genus 

 found in fresh waters, and which are so numerous in 

 the water conveyed into London that we swallow 

 them daily, these swim with ease, progressing by 

 sudden bounds made with great vigour and effect. 

 Mr. Baird notices of one marine species (C depressus), 

 which he found in Berwick Bay, that its motion is 

 peculiar. "It generally swims on its back, and in- 

 stead of darting forward through the water, as the 

 other species of Cyclops do, it springs with a bound 

 from the bottom of the vessel, where it rests when 

 undisturbed, up to the surface of the water. For this 



* Mag. Zool. and B'>t., ii. lil. 



