NATURAL HISTORY MISCELLANY. 655 
that is, by splitting or dividing itself into pieces, each of which 
becomes a perfect animal. (Fig. 112 represents a Rotifer, the 
Squamella oblonga Ehr. ) 
The wheel animalcule (Rotifer vulgaris) will be our next subject 
for examination. He is many degrees higher in the scale than 
the Ameeba; his body is constructed in some degree on the prin- 
ciples of the tube of a telescope; he can also draw himself into 
a ball at pleasure ; he has a mouth and jaws, which are constantly 
at work ; his eyes are distinctly visible. When fishing he attaches 
himself by a foot or tail-like process either to the glass or to the 
stems of aquatic plants and stretches himself out, when the en- 
trance to his mouth opens and the cilia, or hair-like appendages 
with which his mouth is furnished, commence moving or rushing, 
thus causing a current or small whirlpool in the water, by means 
of which monads and other animalcules are drawn in, and amongst 
others our friend the Amceba falls in, so that the victor of yester- 
day is the victim of to-day. 
Rotifers are produced from eggs, although in one species (Acti- 
nurus neptunius) we have distinctly seen the young one in the 
body of the parent, and not only so, but have noticed its jaws 
going as if the creature was feeding. The red eyes of the young 
Actinurus could also be distinctly seen. 
When swimming, the Rotifer is a very graceful creature ; with 
his crown of cilia extended, he glides across the field of view 
with amazing swiftness 
We well remember ‘hes young at microscopy, the anxiety ex- 
perienced to possess a Rotifer ; the quantities of infusion of leaves 
of all sorts we made, including hay, straw and sage, but to no pur- 
pose. We could get lots of monads and other varieties, but no 
Rotifer. For two years this state of things went on, when we were 
tempted to bottle some water from one of the street puddles, 
ing some of the sediment with it. The bottle was placed un- 
corked, in the window, so that the full benefit of the sun-light 
might be obtained. As soon as business was over that day the 
bottle was produced, the animalcule cage filled, the focus of the 
microscope adjusted, and to our delight, the water was swarming 
with Rotifers ; and from that day to this, we have been close com- 
panions. This water was kept for nearly three years, and fresh wa- 
ter now and then added to compensate for evaporation, with a little 
piece of pond-weed (Anacharis alsinastrum), or duck-weed (Lemna) 
