208 



ROTIFERA 



Sand, and no Signs of Life appear. Notwithstanding, being put 

 into Water, in the Space of Half an Hour a languid Motion 

 begins, the Globule turns itself about, lengthens by slow Degrees, 

 becomes in the Form of a lively Maggot, and most commonly in 

 a few Minutes afterwards puts out its Wheels, and swims 

 vigorously through the Water in Search of Food ; or else, fixing 

 by its Tail, works them in such a Manner as to bring its Food to 



FIG. llQ.PhilotUna roseola. (After Baker.) A, B, Crawling, with extended proboscis, 

 and showing antenna ; C, D, E, attached, with " wheels " extended for catching 

 food ; F, attached, with anterior end retracted. 



it. But sometimes it will remain a long While in the Maggot 

 Form and not shew its Wheels at all. ... 



" If the Water standing in Gutters of Lead, or the slimy 

 Sediment it leaves behind, has any Thing of a red Colour, one 

 may be almost certain of finding them therein, 1 and, if in Summer, 

 when all the Water is dried away, and nothing but Dust remains, 

 that Dust appears red, or of a dark brown, one shall seldom fail, 



1 " Wheel Animals, though found with most Certainty in Leaden Gutters, etc. are 

 often discovered in the Waters of some Ditches, and likewise in Water that has stood 

 a considerable Time even in the House ; for I have often met with them, in sufficient 

 Plenty, in a Sort of slimy Matter that is apt to be produced on the Sides of Glasses 

 and other Vessels, that are kept long with the Infusions of Hay or other Vcyctablcs ; 

 and probably they arc wafted thither by the Air, when in the Condition of little 

 dry Globules." 



