INFUSORIA. 



407 



of which proceed radiating pencils or tufts of long, straight, 

 stiff, elastic filaments, like threads of spun glass, varying 

 greatly in length, and each terminated by a little knob- of 

 the same material. The tout ensemble of this object is 

 very attractive and beautiful, and its history is a tale of 

 marvels. 



No wonder that Ehrenberg, supposing this form to be 



an independent animal, gave it a generic and specific name. 

 He called it Acineta mystacina. For who would have sus- 

 pected that this, stiff and motionless object, with its tufts of 



