WONDERS OF POND LIFE. 1 75 



motionless and the big mouth closed. Immedi- 

 ately after the elastic string begins slowly to un- 

 coil, but not until it is straightened to its full 

 length does the wide mouth open as before. 



Just now I am quite sure a vorticella shot 

 across the field, minus its flexible stalk. Let me 

 move the slide to bring it into view. Yes, here it 

 is ; evidently a young one has lately broken away 

 from the parent stem, and is casting about to fix 

 for itself a local habitation. While it is prospect- 

 ing, an opportunity is offered to examine the crea- 

 ture at this stage of its inexperience. It is now 

 provided with a second fringe of small hairs at the 

 base of the bell, so that it may be propelled through 

 its little world of troubled waters. It was your 

 bad fortune, O, Vorticella, to wander near when 

 this drop was confined. Alas ! it will soon evap- 

 orate, and leave you a dust mote, to be blown 

 hither and thither until some favorable breeze 

 shall at last restore you to your native ditch. 



Here is an interesting little worm-like creature, 

 named the Rotifer or wheel animalcule, crawling 

 along after the style of the spanners or leeches. 

 Now it fastens its tail on the glass, by means of 

 two sucking disks, and lengthening itself out 

 like a spy-glass begins to feed. Two wheels, con- 



