CYTHERE. 167 



neither have I ever seen any individual with ova, though 

 this may perhaps be accounted for, from the specimens 

 vrhich I have examined being chiefly dissected in the 

 winter months. 



These httle creatiu-es are chiefly to be found in sea- 

 water, and may be met with in all the little pools among 

 the rocks on the seashore. They live among the Fuci and 

 Confervse, &c., which are to be found in such pools ; and 

 the naturalist may especially And them in abundance in 

 those beautiful, clear, little, round wells which are so 

 frequently to be met with, hollowed out of the rocks of 

 the seashore, which are within reach of the tide, and the 

 water of which is kept sweet and wholesome, by being 

 thus changed twice during every tAventy-four hours. In 

 such delightful pools, clear as crystal, when left undis- 

 turbed by the receding tide, these interesting animals may 

 be found, often in great numbers, sporting about amongst 

 the Confervae and Corallines, which so elegantly and fanci- 

 fully fringe their edges and decorate their sides, and 

 which form such a glorious subaqueous forest for myriads 

 of living creatm^es to disport themselves in. Sheltered 

 amongst the "umbrageous multitude" of stems and 

 branches, and nestling in security in their forest glades, 

 they are safe from the ravages of the advancing tide, though 

 lashed up to fury by the opposing rocks which for a 

 moment check its advance; and weak and powerless though 

 such pigmies seem to be, they are yet found as numerous 

 and active in their little wells, after the shores have been 

 desolated by the mighty force of the tide, which has been 

 driven in in thunder by the power of a fierce tempest, as 

 when the waves have rolled gently and calmly to the shore 

 in their sweetest murmurs. Hitherto they have been 

 found very sparingly in fresh water, two species only 

 having been noticed. 



These animals have never been seen to swim, invariably 

 walking among the branches or leaves of the Conferva3 or 

 Fuci, &c., where they delight to dwell. When shook out 

 from their hiding-places into a bottle or tumbler of water, 



