91 ANIMALCULES. Mark'd by the magnifying crystal's aid, VORTICELLA RACEMOSA. THIS most elegant animalcule is found during the summer months in clear stagnant waters, attached to the stalks of the smaller water-plants and other objects; to the naked eye, the whole group, on account of the great number of individuals composing it, is distinctly visible, in the form of a small whitish spot, resembling a kind of slime or mouldiness, but when placed under the microscope in a drop of water on a glass, its extraordinary structure is immediately perceived. From a single stem proceed at various distances, several smaller ramifications, each terminated by an apparent flower, like that of a convolvulus, and furnished on the opposite edges, with a pair of filaments resembling stamina. The whole is in the highest degree transparent, and perfectly resembles the finest glass; while the varying motions of the seeming flowers, expanding and contracting occasionally, and turning themselves in different directions, afford a scene so singularly curious, as to be numbered among the finest spectacles which the microscope is capable of exhibiting. Each animal, though seated on the common stem, is complete in itself, and possesses the power of detaching itself from the stem, and forming a fresh colony for itself.-DR. SHAW's Zoological Lectures. VORTICELLA ROTATORIA, OR WHEEL-ANIMAL To the genus Vorticella, just described, also belongs the celebrated animalcule called the wheel-animal, from the appearance which the head in some particular posi tions exhibits; as it is furnished with a pair of toothed wheels, in rapid motion. This animalcule, which is called Vorticella rotatoria, has been well described and figured by Mr. Baker in his work on the microscope: it is of a lengthened shape, and of a pale brown colour, and is of such a size as to be sometimes perceptible by a sharp eye, even without a glass. It is remarkable for its strange power of reviviscence, or restoration to life and motion, after being dried many months on a glass. The wheelanimal is often found on the scum covering the surface of stagnant waters, but more frequently in the water found in the hollows of decayed trees after rain.-DR. SHAW. VOLVOX GLOBATOR. THE genus, called Volvox, also presents one of the largest and most curious of animalcules, as well as one of the most beautiful, the chief species, or Volvox Globator, often equalling the size of a pin's head. In the advanced state of spring, and again in autumn, it appears in immense numbers in the clearer kind of stagnant waters. Its general colour is green; but it is sometimes of a pale orange colour. Its motions are irregular, in all directions, and at the same time rolling or spinning as if on an axis. When microscopically examined, it presents one of the most curious phenomena in natural history, being always pregnant with several smaller animals of its own kind, and these with others still smaller; the whole external surface is covered with very numerous small tubercles: which some have supposed to act as a kind of fins, while others have supposed them to be the valves of so many orifices which the creature can either open or close at pleasure, in order to manage its various motions. When groups of these beautiful animalcules are viewed by the solar miscroscope, they strongly recall to the recollection of the spectator, the magnificent scene in Mr. Walker's Edouranion, representing numerous worlds revolving in various directions.-DR. SHAW, VIBRIO ANGUILLULA, OR EEL VIBRIO. THIS animalcule inhabits acid paste made of flour and water, or such as is used for the common purposes of bookbinding, and the other variety is often found in common vinegar. The paste vibrio is distinctly visible to a good eye without a glass, and when full grown measures the tenth of an inch in length: it is viviparous, and frequently produces a tribe of young. Its general appearance when magnified is that of an eel. This animalcule, from its size, and the ease with which it may at all times be kept and observed, is particularly interesting. It generally swarms on the surface of the paste, and often coats the sides of the vessel in which it is kept, often forming a kind of ramification, resembling the branched appearance of frost on a window: this is particularly observable in rainy weather.—DR. SHAW's Zoological Lectures. HYDRA, OR POLYPE. THESE curious animals are found adhering to the stems of aquatic plants, or to the under surfaces of the leaves. The species are multiplied by vegetation, one or two or even more young ones emerging gradually from the sides of the parent animal; and these young are frequently again prolific, so that it is not uncommon to see two or three generations at once in the same polype. But the most curious particular respecting this animal is, its multiplication by dissection. It may be cut in every direction, and even into very minute divisions, and not only the parent stock will remain uninjured, but every section will become a perfect animal. Even when turned inside out, it suffers no material injury; for in this state it will soon begin to take food, and to perform all its other animal functions.-Time's Telescope. If a polype be cut in two, the fore part, which contains the head and mouth and arms, lengthens itself, creeps and eats the same day. The tail part forms a head and mouth at the wounded end, and pushes forth arms, more or less speedily, according to the warmth of the weather. If the polype be cut lengthways, each part is half a pipe, with half a head, &c,: the edges of these halves gradually round themselves, and unite, beginning at the tail end, and the half mouth and half stomach of each become complete. Polypes are very voracious creatures, and will swallow worms or insects twice as big as themselves. Joyce on the Microscope. SERPENTS AND SNAKES. THE SERPENTS OF INDIA. AMONG the serpents of India the cobra-minelle is the smallest, and most dangerous; the bite occasions a speedy and painful death. They are of a brown colour, speckled with black and white, though at a distance not easily distinguished from the ground on which they move; and happy would it be if they confined themselves to it; but they enter the houses, and creep upon the beds and chairs; I once found four, and at another time five, in my chamber up stairs. The cobra de capello, or hooded snake (coluber naja,) called by the Indians, the naag, or nagao, is a large and beautiful serpent; but one of the most venomous of all the coluber class; its bite generally proves mortal in less than an hour. It it called the hooded-snake, from having a curious hood near the head, which it contracts or enlarges at pleasure; the centre of this hood is marked in black and white like a pair of spectacles, from whence it is also named the spectacle snake. Of this genus are the dancing-snakes, which are carried in baskets throughout Hindostan, and procure a maintenance for a set of people, who play a few simple notes on the flute, with which the snakes seem much delighted, and keep time by a graceful motion of the head; erecting about half their length from the ground, and following the music with gentle curves, like the undulating lines of a |