396 EVENINGS AT THE MICROSCOPE. 



action ; after a while (how, I do not exactly know), with- 

 out the general relation of position being changed, the 

 mouth of the anterior (which must now be called the old) 

 animal appeared on the side, and at the point corre- 

 spondent in the other, a similar ciliary wreath appeared, 

 while the action along the dividing line was no longer 

 seen. So that the division which was at first transverse 

 now appeared longitudinal. I believe, however, the ani- 

 mals were really separated before this, though they re- 

 mained in contact, for as they slid over each other it was 

 manifest that each had an independent action. 



At length about an hour and a-half after the first 

 appearance of the constriction, the new animal threw out 

 its clear neck to a great length, writhing it about with 

 rapid agility, and forming the most elegant curves, like 

 those of a serpent, often completely encircling its own 

 body with it. It still remained, however, in contact with 

 its parent, which after a time also protruded its neck in 

 the same manner. Both then retracted and remained still 

 for a while ; and again, almost simultaneously threw out 

 their long necks and then retired to sluggish repose. 



Among the sediment, the grains of which are driven 

 hither and thither by their spasmodic, jerking movements, 

 you see several individuals of another sort of creature, — 

 the Chrysalis Animalcule (Parametrium aurelia). This is 

 a " Triton among minnows; " for it is greatly larger than 

 any of those we have yet observed, and is just visible to 

 the naked eye, when we hold up the live-box obliquely 

 against the light ; for then the animals appear as the 

 smallest possible white specks. 



Bringing them again under the microscope, each pre- 

 sents a pellucid appearance, and an oblong figure, of which 

 the fore part is somewhat narrowed. The back rises in a 

 rounded elevation, and the mouth is situated as far back 

 as the middle of the body upon the under surface, where 

 its position is marked by a sort of long fold, the sides of 



