Miscellaneous. 457 
tain the existence of Alga, Infusoria, and even larves of which I 
could not then determine the species. I evaporated the water in 
the sun, and carefully collected the sediments, with the view of 
making experiments in revivification, which it seemed to me would 
be of more validity in the case of water having a quite peculiar 
chemical composition, than with fresh or simply brackish water. 
On the 9th of April, 1881 (that is to say, after more than three 
years of complete desiccation), these sediments were placed in boiled 
and filtered rain-water, which quickly became strongly saline. Tho 
next day, although every precaution had been taken to protect this 
infusion from germs, I ascertained the presence in it of Flagellata, 
and soon afterwards of ciliated Infusoria, which, I must say, from 
the species recognized, did not give any special character to the 
fauna. It was only at the beginning of June that I perceived the 
presence of Nauplian larvee, which were at first microscopic. The 
number of these larve has since greatly increased. They grew 
larger, and became transformed into a little animal about 0-01 
metre in length, provided with a tail, and moving very actively by 
means of its branchial feet. I still (October 31) possess many 
living specimens. 
M. Vayssiere, who has kindly determined the species of these 
animals, recognized them as Artemia salina. As long since as 1875 
Schmankevitsch indicated the curious modifications undergone by 
the organization of this little Crustacean according to the degree of 
saltness of the water in which it lives. For my part, even before I 
had ascertained the species with which I had to do, I had trans- 
ferred a certain number of Artemie into sea-water; and they are 
still living in it. Up to the present time I have not observed any 
modification except their extreme transparency, due, no doubt, to a 
change of food. 
According to Claus the existence of Artemia salina has already 
been ascertained in the salt-marshes in the neighbourhood of Mont- 
pellier, Cagliari, Lymington, and in the Crimea. M. Vayssiére has 
found it near Marseilles. It had not previously been noticed in the 
Chotts of Algeria, where the periods of desiccation are certainly 
hotter, of longer duration, and more frequent than in the localities 
just mentioned. 
Whether we have to do with germs, eggs, or animals said to be 
reviviscent, the phenomena, of latent life are fundamentally the same. 
In the different cases death is only apparent. The phenomena of 
organic combustion and the nutritive exchanges never cease com- 
pletely in the living creature, egg, seed, or animal. I therefore 
do not wander much from my subject in recording another fact 
which I had the opportunity of observing in Algeria in Blepharisma 
lateritia, a rather rare ciliated Infusorian. 
The Sahel of Algeria is commanded by a small mountain, the 
Bouzaréah, on the summit of which exist the ditches of an ancient 
Turkish fort. In 1877 the drought was exceptional, even in the 
Sahel. As soon as the first rains came I ascended to the Bouzaréah ; 
and in the same ditch where I had collected them eight months 
Ann. & Mag. N. Hist. Ser. 5. Vol. viii. Ny 
