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Marvels of the Universe 



Another interesting creature niav be found attached to the same weed ; it is called the Beautiful 

 Floscule. This charming animal is somewhat funnel-shaped, and fixed by its foot (the narrow end 

 of the funnel) to the weed ; but it builds itself a clear transparent tube, which enables us to see its 

 internal economy and all the processes adopted for its well-being. This tube, like the Brickmaker's, 

 is open at the top, which enables the creature to retreat entirely inside when alarmed. If we watch 

 carefully for a few minutes we shall see a long brush protruded from the end of the tube. This 

 brush consists of innumerable hair-like appendages, so fine as to be scarcely visible singly. When 

 it has come out sufficiently these hairs are gradually separated and thrown wide apart. We then 

 see that they are attached in five groups to the margin of the crown-like edge of the animal's head. 



This head is shaped somewhat 

 like a beautiful glass vase with 

 a deeply scolloped edge. Or we 

 may liken its appearance to a 

 fiower with five petals, and on 

 the apex of each petal a little 

 knob to which the hairs are 

 attached. By means of a 

 slight vibratory tremor smaller 

 creatures are drawn in and 

 devoured. The entire Floscule 

 is so transparent that we can 

 see the whole process of masti- 

 ^ cation taking place. The eggs 



— as many as nine in a batch — 

 are laid and hatched in the 

 crystal tube. 



There is another charming 

 tube-dweller probably to be 

 found on the same piece of 

 weed, and known as the 

 Crowned Horn. In this case 

 the crystal vase is closed 

 around the neck of the animal, 

 and when the latter withdraws 

 the tube is folded in on itself. 

 It is not smooth and straight, 

 like that of the Floscule, but 

 appears creased, as if it were too large for its inhabitant ; this creasing enables it to fold in and 

 become shorter when the creature withdraws in alarm. The head of the animal is ornamented 

 with five horns, with tufts of short fringe arranged along them. These horns are curved inwards 

 and form a beautiful crown ; hence the name of the animal. 



In placing our piece of weed into the bottle to convey it from the pond we probably disturbed 

 some interesting forms which have fallen to the bottom ; so let us examine some of the sediment. 

 Here is one of the lowest forms of animal-life, the Amoeba, a transparent speck of jelly-like substance, 

 capable of assuming any form it likes. It captures and devours its food by extending its margin 

 into finger-like processes, and so enveloping the desired tit-bit, literally getting outside it. 



Another form, called from its shape the Sun Animalcule, possesses the same power of taking in 

 its nourishment at any part of its body ; but to enable it to procure food it is furnished with 

 innumerable long hair-hke extensions of its body, which radiate all around and give it the appearance 



Photo iif] [A. Leal. 



THE RFVOLVING GLOBES. 



These bright green slobes are about one-twentieth of an inch across, hollow, with 

 younger globes revolving within them. They are of singular beauty, and are claimed 

 by botanists to be plants and by zoologists as animals. 



