WHEEL-BEAEEES. 281 



of a tMrd toe, since we find that number in some genera 

 of this class. The whole foot, including the toes, is 

 rough with the shagreen-like points that coyer the 

 lorica. 



Ton have already noticed the rapidity and fitful 

 irregularity which the long and many-jointed foot con- 

 fers upon the movements of this curious little form. 

 From the toe-tips, as a point of adhesion, it throws its 

 body to and fro, or from side to side, in a peculiar 

 manner. The toes are sometimes sprawled out, like the 

 legs of an expanded pair of compasses, and sometimes 

 the joints of the foot are suddenly bent in zig-zag fash- 

 ion, and then as abruptly straightened. Tlie animal 

 swims gracefully, but only with moderate swiftness, 

 the rotatory crown of cilia being small though fomiing 

 the usual vortices when the animal is moored ; while 

 thus swimming, the toes are gracefully stretched be- 

 hind, nearly in contact with each other. It is lively 

 in its motions, biit these seem performed without any 

 ostensible object ; we do not often see it attempt to eat, 

 or nibble at any substance. 



I think we never find the Skeleton except among 

 the sediment at the bottom of the water in which it is 

 kept ; among which also we frequently see the remains 

 of defunct specimens — the skeleton of the Skeleton ; 

 this itself makes a pretty object : the lorica, with its 

 points and ridges, the thoracic column, the foot with its 

 joints and spines, and the toes, being perfectly preserved, 

 and rendered even more clear than during life, because 

 of the removal of all the soft internal parts by decay, 

 and by the efforts of those little scavengers, the smaller 

 species of infusorial animalcules. These quickly find 

 their way into the interior of any dead animal with a 



