UTRICWLARIA CLANDESTINA. 



143 



purpose, but not the object I was aiming at. Forced 

 to give up this plan of seeing the larvae enter the utri- 

 cle, I now directed my attention to the smaller ones — 

 animalcules proper. I placed the utrioles in water in- 

 habited by numerous tiny creatures, and soon had the 

 satisfaction of seeing the modus operandi by which the 

 victim was caught. 



There is a depression at the entrance of the utricle, 

 a pretty vestibule that seems to attract the little animals 

 into the inviting retreat, where just beyond is a fatal 

 trap or valve which if touched springs back and en- 

 gulfs the unwary adventurers, never more to be re- 

 leased. 



I was very much amused in watching a water-bear 

 {lardigradd) entrapped. It slowly walked around the 

 utricle, as if reconnoitring — very much like its larger 

 namesake ; finally it ventured into the vestibule, and 



FIG. 3. — THE WATER-BEAR. 



soon heedlessly touched the trap, when it was taken 

 within so quickly that my eyes could not follow the 

 motion. The utricle was transparent and quite empty, 

 so that I could see the behavior of the little animal 

 very distinctly. It seemed to look around as if sur- 



