CYPRIS. 
151 
mud becomes very dry and hard, they perish ; but the 
eggs do not perish along with the parents, for they can be 
hatched in four or five days after being placed in water. 
These little creatures seem to be very lively in their 
native element, being almost constantly in motion, either 
swimming about rapidly by the action of their antennae, 
or walking upon the plants and other solid bodies floating 
in the water. Instead of being fixed to one place, and 
condemned to live amidst eternal darkness, like the mol- 
luscous animals to which they bear such resemblance in 
external covering, “they” to use the words of Muller, 
“ by opening their valves, enjoy light, and move at their 
will, sometimes burying themselves in the mud, some- 
times darting through the water, the humid air of their 
sphere. If they meet any unforeseen object, they conceal 
themselves all at once in their shells and shut the valves, 
so that force and address seek in vain to open them.” 
This family contains two Genera. 
1 Cypris. — Inferior or pediform antennae provided 
with a pencil of long hairs or filaments. Animal swim- 
ming freely in the water. 
2. Candona. — Inferior or pediform antennae destitute 
of the pencil of long hairs or filaments. Animal creeping 
on the ground or upon plants. 
Genus 1 — Cypris. ^ < 
Cypkis, Muller , Latreille, M. Edwards , Dana, fyc. 
Monoctjltjs, Linnceus, Manuel , fyc. 
Monocles a coquille bivalve, Jurine. 
Character . — One eye. Two pairs of feet; one pair 
always inclosed within the shell. Abdomen terminated 
by a long, slender, bifid tail. Posterior or pediform an- 
tennae furnished with a bundle of long setae, generally 
plumose. Animal swims freely in the water. 
