294: EVENINaS AT THE MICEOSCOPE. 



As this cuiTent passes, tlie manducatory apparatus 

 acts upon the particles of food which it brings in its 

 course. The quadrantic masses approach each other 

 and recede, with a rapid rolling movement, in the 

 direction of the curvature of the mallei ; while, at the 

 same time, the rami of the incus open and close their 

 points, rise and sink, and occasionally perform a kind 

 of shoveling action. The points of the fingers of the 

 unci, meeting each other, doubtless pierce and tear the 

 Infusoria swallowed, and the striated faces of the 

 quadrantic masses bruise, squeeze, and grind them 

 down. 



When the muscular investiture is dissolved away 

 by potash, the essential identity of the whole structure 

 with that of the type already described, becomes 

 abundantly evident. Even the mallei, which in some 

 aspects present difficulty, when viewed vertically, are 

 but little changed ; the fingers are parallel instead of 

 divergent, and the handle-like character of the manu- 

 brium is lost; but three areas, enclosed by loops or 

 carinse of solid substance, reveal their true nature. 



We will now see if we can separate the animal 

 from its tube, so as to examine its lower parts. By 

 a gentle pressure upon the bottom of the tube with 

 the edge of a penknife, which I bring to bear upon it 

 by the aid of this simple microscope, the creature is 

 induced to wriggle out of his case. Keplacing now 

 the cover of the live-box, and placing it again on the 

 stage of the compound microscope, we see that the 

 lower part of the body forms a foot analogous to that 

 of a Brachionus, covered with ring-like wrinkles, and 

 separated from the body by an abrupt constriction and 



