396 EVENINGS AT THE MICEOSCOPE. 



by a curious parasite. About twenty bodies, having-a 

 most ludicrously close resemblance to the human figure, 

 and as closely imitating certain human motions, are 

 seen standing erect around the mouth of the tube, now 

 that the Sabella has retired into the interior, and are 

 incessantly bowing and tossing about their arms in the 

 most energetic manner. 



As soon as you have recovered from your surprise at 

 this strange display, we will begin to examine the per- 

 formers more in detail. A slender creeping thread, 

 irregularly crossing and anastomosing, so as to form a 

 loose network of about three meshes in width, surrounds 

 the margin of the Sabella^s tube, adhering firmly to its 

 exterior surface, in the chitinous substance of which it 

 seems imbedded. Here and there free buds are given 

 off, especially from the lower edge ; while from the 

 upper threads spring the strange forms that have at- 

 tracted our notice. These are spindle-shaped bodies, 

 about jVth of an inch in height, whose lower extremi- 

 tities are of no greater thickness than the thread from 



