THE MINUTE. 



two stiff unjointed styles, is brought into requisi- 

 tion. These are capable of being opened or closed 

 like the feet of a pair of compasses, and of being 

 brought round into any position through the 

 flexibility of the base, which forms false or tele- 

 scopic joints. The tips of these foot-styles are 

 used as a pivot on which the animal moves ; they 

 are placed perpendicularly to the stem, or other 

 substance, on which it means to crawl or feed, 

 and the body is brought down horizontally, so 

 that the head can touch the same plane. Thus, 

 without moving its points of support, the animal 

 can reach a considerable extent of surface with its 

 mouth, either stretching forward until the feet are 

 nearly horizontal, or drawing backward until the 

 points are under the belly. 



When I used the term "greedily" in describing its 

 eating, it was rather with reference to the activ- 

 ity and apparent eagerness with which the little 

 creature labours, than to the quantity actually 

 devoured. This indeed is not very perceptible, 

 though the jaws are continually thrust forward, 

 and are opened and closed with untiring perse- 

 verance and energy. Probably they are not capa- 

 ble of detaching more than the minutest particles, 

 for the effect produced is not the visible admission 

 of atoms into the stomach, as in the former exam- 

 ple, but the gradual discoloration of the viscera, 

 which become stained with a yellowish olive hue, 

 that grows more and more intense. 



The large oval eggs of this animalcule may also 

 be seen adhering to the leaves here and there, so 

 large as to be nearly half as long as the whole 

 animal; they are beautifully symmetrical, are in- 

 closed in a brittle transparent shell, and look like 

 birds' eggs. If we watch an individual, we may 

 easily see an egg laid ; taking care to select one 

 11 161 



