Luminousness of the Sea, 319 



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 others, 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 with Muller, the 

 best historian of this family of created beings ? " Nosci digna 

 haec animalcula, non quia Deus maximus in minimis est, seque 

 enim magnus in omnibus, at ob eximiam membrorum exilita- 

 tem, miram organorum diversitatem, varia Creator is 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 

 (Jig, 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 smallest things, for he is equally great in all things, but on account of 

 the extreme tenuity of their members, the wonderful diversity of their 

 organs, the various means used by the Creator for attaining the same end, 

 and a beauty and proportion which nothing excels." 



Y 4 



