THE YOUNG SCIENTIST. 
23 
Marvels of Pond Life— VI. 
SEVERAL other Rotifers, with and with- 
out carapaces, were among the same* 
mass of confervae, among them a Metopidia, 
with a firm shell, a forked jointed tail, and 
a projection in front which worked like a 
Tricliodina pediculus. 
pickaxe among the decaying weed. There 
were likewise specimens of the long- 
necked animalcules (Trachelii), groups 
of Vorticella, some specimens of Yolvox, 
and a small Trichodina pediculus, which, 
when magnified two hundred and sixty 
linear, was about the size of a sixpence 
and equally round. The edge was beauti- 
fully fringed with a circle of cilia ; in an 
'* Tenby," and described as the "Yellow 
Philodine," but this must remain in 
doubt, as it managed to escape before it 
could be secured. 
By the 18th of the month the Yorticellids 
were much more plentiful, and their 
changes easily watched ; many left their 
stalks while under the microscope, after 
which some rushed about like animated 
and demented hats, others twirled round 
like tee-to-tums, while others took a rest 
before commencing their wild career. But 
the common Vorticellae were not the only 
or the most interesting representations of 
their charming order, for upon some 
threads of conferva were descried several 
elegant crystal vases standing upon short 
foot-stalks, and containing little creatures 
that jumped up and down like " Jack in 
the box." These were so minute, that a 
power of four hundred and thirty linear 
was advantageously brought to bear upon 
them. When elongated their bodies were 
somewhat pear-shaped, but more slender, 
and variegated with vacuoles and particles 
A. Cothurnia imberbis~( Micrograph. Diet.') B and C. The specimens described in text. 
The figures give the linear magnification. 
inner circle was a row of locomotive 
organs, and the centre exhibited vacuoles 
constantly opening and shutting. This 
creature, as before explained, is often 
found as a parasite upon the polyps. On 
one occasion a glimpse was caught of a 
Rotifer similar in shape to the common 
wheel animalcule, but with a yellow in- 
side. Possibly it was the object so beauti- 
fully delineated by Mr. Gosse, in his 
'■ Figured in our January number. 
of food. The mouths resembled those of 
Vorticellae, and put forth circles of vibrat- 
ing cilia. They were easily alarmed, 
when the cilia were retracted, and down 
they sank to the bottom of their vases, 
quickly to rise again. In one bottle there 
were two living in friendly juxtaposition. 
This was not a case of matrimonial feli- 
city, nor of Siamese twins, but oi fission, 
or reproduction by division. The original 
inhabitant of the tube finding himself too 
fat, or impelled by causes we do not 
