Marvels of Pond-life

family-Mr. Gosse's description-Motions of Rotifers-Indications of a will-Remarks on the motions of lower creatures-Various theories-Possibility

and July, nor was the weather at all propitious. For this reason the

g like fingers thrust against each other, and which were unmistakably of the rotifer pattern, the animal might have been supposed to belong to some other class. According to the 'Micrographic Dictionary,' the Lindia torulosa is 1-75" long, but this specimen was only about 1-200". It was possibly very young,

crysta

long, was observed to contain an animal capable of rising up and expanding a round mouth garnished with a wreath of cilia; while a little below, the indefatigable and characteristic gizzard of the tribe was in full play. A power of two hundred and forty linear sufficed to afford a good view, and it was seen that a long, irregular, conical body was supported upon a short wrinkled stalk. The usual drawings represent this creature with a short bell-shaped body upon a very long

ent" on stilts. Sometimes he stood bolt upright, bringing his legs close together; then they were jauntily crossed, and the body carried horizontally; then the two legs would be slightly opened, and the body thr

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re lower, and said to be "cervical." The changes of form in this rotifer are still more remarkable than in the common wheel-bearer. When resting it resembles a pear-shaped purse, puckered in at the mouth. Then it thrusts out its tail-foot, swells its body to an oval globe, protrudes its feeler, and slightly exposes a row of cilia. After this two distinct wheels are everted, and as their c

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ployed, but from the complicated character of the organ, and its very different appearance under different aspects. To make the matter more intelligible, Mr. Gosse adds, "the structure and action of an apparatus of this type may be made more clear by a homely illustration. Suppose an apple to be divided longitudinally, leaving the stalk attached to one half. Let this now be split again longitudinally so far as the stalk, but not actually separating either portion from it. Draw the two portions slightly apart, and lay them down on their rounded surfaces. They now represent the quadrantic masses in repose, the stalk being the fulcrum,

nderstand any of the complicated gizzards of the rotifers without repeated observations, and no small exercise of patience. It is common to call the p

at extent motions which appear intelligent are really the result of anything like a conscious purpose or will. When any of the lower animals-a bee, for example-acts in precisely the same way as all bees have acted since their proceedings have been observed, we settle the question

t bear no analogy to human reason and human will, and so originate all the ordinary processes of bee life. Sometimes, however, it happens that man or accident interposes particular obstacles, and forthwith there appears a particular modification of the orthodox plan, calculated to meet the special difficulty. How is this? Does any one of the difficulties which the bee or the

pressions upon the nervous system, in which the sentient brain takes no part. Thus when a strong light stimulates the optic nerve, the portion of brain with which it is connected in its turn stimulates the iris to contract the pupil; and it is supposed that after a man has begun to walk, through the exercise of his will, he may continue to walk, by a reflex action; as his feet press the ground they transmit an impression to the spinal cord, and the legs receive a f

nter's 'Manual

'Manual of Phys

d consensual movements, that is, movements which are accompanied or stimulated by a sensation, although not controlled by a will. In man these actions are frequently exhibited, "as when laughter is provoked b

bid.,

manifestations of emotion, exhibited by many of the lower animals, that some of the actions w

rtebrata, and "the second is comparable, perhaps, to the cerebellum or spinal cord."[17] The superior ganglion gives off nerves to the antenn? and ey

Invertebrates,'

bly, either the direct result of stimulants applied to the surface (as in nerveless creatures), or the indirect (reflex) result of such stimulants in beings like the rotifers, who have a nervous system; or the result of sensations, which excite actions without previously referring the matter to the decision o