68 GENERAL. HISTORY 



SECTION XXVIII. Class ROTATORIA. 



This tribe of beings possess so complete an organiza- 

 tion, that in a correct arrangement of the animal kingdom, 

 it would take its station far above many others, whose 

 members are of much larger magnitude. 



The comparatively large size of the Rotatoria, the defi- 

 nite situation of the ova, and the simplicity of their diges- 

 tive system, has enabled the microscopic observer to 

 ascertain with certainty, in many cases, every part of their 

 internal structure. As a tribe, it appears to me more 

 natural than that of the Polygastrica ; at least there are no 

 such doubtful families as we find in the latter, namely, 

 the Closterina, Bacillaria, &c. Indeed, the only exception 

 that I think can be taken is the genus Stephanoceros, 

 which some naturalists class along with the zoophites. 



The Rotatoria mostly inhabit water ; but immersion in 

 that element does not appear to be essential to their exist- 

 ence. They often reside in damp or moist earth ; and the 

 Rotifer vulgaris, and some other species, are known to 

 inhabit the cells of Mosses and Algae. 



SEECTION XXIX. Muscular System. 



In this class of Infusoria, a muscular system subservient 

 to the functions of locomotion, nutrition, &c., is well 

 developed, and the integuments being transparent, render 

 their structure and situation distinctly visible under the 

 microscope, without dissection. The principal muscular 



