Luminousness of the Sea. 312 
the sides with long hairs. On each side, about the middle of 
the head, and also on each side of the last segment of the 
body, or what, perhaps, may be termed the tail, there is 
attached a circular fasciculus of fine short hairs; the body 
being quite transparent, the mouth and viscera could be plainly 
seen. Its motion was rather slow, the long hairs composing 
its natatory feet were gently put in motion, so as slowly and 
gracefully to carry him a short distance through the water ; 
he would then stop, and immediately set the circular fasciculi 
of short hairs already mentioned, at his upper and lower 
extremities, in motion, which was so exceedingly rapid as at 
first to escape detection. This very quick circular motion 
produced a regular whirlpool in the water around him, which 
extended in a very short time to a considerable distance, the 
mouth of the animal forming the centre of the vortex. The 
objects all round about were thus put in motion, and sucked 
into the part where his mouth is situate, which at such times 
was constantly and rapidly contracting and dilating, swallow- 
ing some objects and rejecting othersg the viscera at the same 
time having evidently a strong vermicular motion. It appeared 
to be very rapacious, as the whole time it was under the 
microscope it seemed to be almost constantly in search of 
food. Found in the Straits of Malacca. The whole construc- 
tion and motions of this singular little being were extremely 
interesting ; and although in general the animals of this nature 
are so exceedingly minute in their structure, as to render them 
very apt to be overlooked, and even when once seen, to be 
thrown aside as unworthy of a rational being’s attention, who 
could witness the beautiful provision of nature for the supply 
of such a diminutive creature as this described, scarcely the 
size of a small pin’s head, without agreeing w ith Muller, the 
best historian of this family of created beings ? * Nosci dina 
heec animatcula, non quia Deus maximus in minimis est, aque 
enim magnus in omnibus, at ob eximiam membrorum exilita- 
tem, miram organoruim diversitatem, varia Creatoris eundem 
finem obtinendi media, et pulchritudinem et proportionem 
quam nihil excellit.” * 
I have still two other animals to describe, belonging, how- 
ever, to different classes from the last mentioned. The one 
{ fig. 83. k) is evidently a Planaria, in its motion very much 
resembling the leech; natural size, a grain of sand ; colour 
“ These animalcules deserve to be known, not because God is greatest 
in aie things, for he is equally great in ‘all things, but on account of 
the extreme tenuity of their members, the wonder ful diver sity of their 
organs, the various means used by the Creator for attaining the same end, 
and a beauty and proportion which nothing excels.” 
Vy 4 
