ANIMALCULES. 6oZ 



times with difficulty to be distinguished for the same 

 animal. When water, in which any vegetable has 

 been infused, or in which any animal substance is 

 preserved, has stood undisturbed for some days, a 

 slimy substance will be found on the sides of the 

 vessel, some of which, if viewed in a microscope, 

 will be found to contain, among several other ani- 

 malcules, the Proteus. It is pellucid and gela- 

 tinous, and swims about, most commonly, with a 

 long neck and bulbous body, with great vivacitv. 

 Sometimes it makes a stop for a minute or two, and 

 stretches itself out apparently in search of prey. — 

 When alarmed it immediately draws in its neck, 

 becomes more opake, and moves very sluggishly. It 

 will then, perhaps, instead of its former long neck, 

 push out a kind of wheel machinery, the motions of 

 which draw a current of water, and, along with this, 

 probably its prey. Withdrawing this it will some- 

 times remain almost motionless for some seconds, as 

 if weary ; then protruding its long neck will often 

 resume its former agility, or instead adopt in suc- 

 cession a multitude of different appearances. The 

 eyes of this creature have not hitherto been disco- 

 vered : it however swims with great rapidity among 

 the multitudes of animalcules that inhabit the same 

 Water, without striking against them. 



I shall conclude this account of the Animal 

 Creation with La Martiniere's description of Vohox 

 bulla, a species of animals nearly the most simple of 

 any that have yet come to our knowledge. " They 

 consist (he says) only of oval bodies, similar in ap- 



