766 



The Living Animals of the World 



has a distinct throat-openi:ig, two rhytlunically contracting cavities fulfillmg a respratory 

 function and a complex reproductive nodule, or nucleus. Compared with a host of its kmdred, 

 this animalcule is a giant, the longest diameter of many of the smaller varieties measuring 

 no more than the ^oV«th part of inch, or even less. 



The elegant little Bell- ANIMALCULE, witli 

 of vibrating hairs, and long spirally contractile foot-stalk vi fL • i 



]Most commonly these single-celled organisms, like the single. 



its crystal wineglass-shaped body, crown 

 is a familiar object to the 



possessor of a microscope. _ . , , i- ■ • ii ^ <.-u i 



celled elements of organic tissues, multiply by repeated sub-division, the number that 



a short space of time by this simple process being almost 

 been calculated, of some species may be 



can be reproduced in 



incredible. As many as a million, it has t ., • 



thus derived from an original single individual within twenty hours. In this_ connection 



these lowly organisms can among living animals most logically lay claim to immortality. 



The individual, in point of fact, never dies. Finding itself growing old and obe.e at 



the ripe acre of, say, sixty minutes, it has simply to split itself up into two offsets, 



which swim away and repeat the process. Occasionally, for the rejuvenescence of the 



race, two individuals coalesce completely with one another, and multiplication by splitting 



Borne near relations of the little bell-animalcule, while sub-dividing so far as their bodies 

 are concerned, remain united by their foot-stalks, and thus in time build up beautiful tree- 

 like structures, laden as it were with crystal bells or fruit. In some of these the common 

 branchincr foot-stalk is erect and rigid, while in others it is flexible, and cont<ains, as m the 

 ordinary "species, a central elastic ligament. Under these circumstances the whole tree-like 

 structure, with its crystal bells, collapses and expands again under the slightest stimulus, and 

 constitutes one of the most 

 beautiful objects that can lie 

 viewed through the microscope. 



In lower forms of the 

 infusorial animalcules one or 

 more long, lash-like organs take 

 the place of locomotive hairs. 

 In this category are included the 

 Collar-bearing Animalcules. 

 Some of these build up tree- 

 like growths by repeated sub- 

 divisions and imperfect separa- 

 tion, after the manner of the 

 bell-animalcules, while others 

 excrete tubular dwelling-cases, 

 inhabited by the resultants of 

 the splitting process. Such 

 forms can with difficulty be 

 distinguished from skeletonless 

 sponges. 



The animalcule Nociiluca, 

 which by its countless 

 myriads is the chief constituent 

 of ocean phosphorescence, is a 

 member of the Lash-bearing 

 group. This noteworthy form 

 invites a somewhat more r„otni,y w. Sa,me-Kcnt, f.z.s.] l..i,(r-„,,(-<,-,.-s». 



extended notice. It is to the cur-sroxGES, rHOTOGnAPHKD as gkowi.xg ix a coraltool. 



r .-[ -VT i.-i ■ Tho Neptune't^ cup Fponi^e, iillied to this .siiecies, is sometimes 2 ov 3 feet in height and 



presence ot the iSoctiluca m i i ^ . ai'imcter. 



