THE ANIMAL KINGDOM. 



15 



eyes of the astonished observers so many different aspects, 

 that at the expiration of five minutes they cannot be 

 recognized. At one moment they are globular or three- 

 cornered; an instant after they are seen taking on the 

 appearance of a star. Accordingly, these creatures, the 

 forms of which elude our grasp, have received the name 

 of Protei, from the enchanter of Virgil, who by his 

 wonderful metamorphoses was enabled to escape the 

 notice of every one. 



Some animalcules of this class surround themselves 

 with improvised feet like living roots, the arrangement of 



7. "Wagener's Lieberkuhnia — Lieberkuhnia Wageneri (Claparede). 



which they are seen varying in a thousand ways. Some- 

 times they lengthen them out preposterously, some- 



