Marvels of Pond-life Or, A Year's Microscopic Recreations Among the Polyps, Infusoria, Rotifers, Water-bears and Polyzoa by Henry James Slack

Author:Henry James Slack [Slack, Henry James]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Microscopy, Freshwater animals -- England, Pond animals
Published: 2011-07-29T16:00:00+00:00

When any of the monads swarm, there are sure to be plenty of other creatures to eat them up, and in this instance the predaceous animalcule, already described, was not the only enemy the little green globes had to suffer from, as two sorts of rotifer were frequently met with. One of these was a very handsome and singular creature, which in some positions had the general contour of a cockatoo, only that the legs were wanting, and the head exhibited a monkey face. The "wheels" were represented by ciliary tufts, and two bright red eyes twinkled with a knowing look. From each shoulder proceeded a long curved spine, and about two thirds down the body, and lying between the two long spines, a shorter one was articulated, which followed the same curve. A gizzard was busy in the breast, and the body terminated in two short toes, which grasped a large round egg. Whenever the cilia were drawn in, the three spines were thrown up; but they had an independent motion of their own, and every now and then were jerked suddenly and violently back, which occasioned a rapid change in the creature's position. The gizzard appeared to consist of two rounded masses, having several ridges of teeth, which worked against each other something like the prominences of a coffee-mill. From the three spines, this animal was a Triarthra, or Three-limbed Rotifer, but the position of the spines, and the toes, made it differ from any species described in the 'Micrographic Dictionary,' or in Pritchard.

Whether or not this species is to be regarded as having a lorica or not, must depend upon the precise meaning attached to that word. At any rate the integument was much firmer than in many of the rotifers, and gave an efficient support to the spines which a mere skin could not do. As Mr. Gosse remarks of an allied genus, the Polyarthra, or Many-limbed Rotifer, this creature could not be investigated without coming to the conclusion "Here again we have true jointed limbs;" a fact of great importance in determining the zoological rank of the family, and in supporting Mr. Gosse's view some at least bore a strong affinity with the group of Arthropoda, of which the insects are the principal representatives.

Brachionus urceolaris. This drawing has been accidentally reversed by the engraver, which alters the relative place of the internal organs.

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