Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-10-22
LETTERS ON NATURAL HISTORY.
No. 16.
WATER ANIMALCULF,S.
By DR. HIRAM "A. CUTTING,

WATER ANIMALCULEs.
Similar to the animalcule last described
is another called, Tdrdigrade which ha:
SO great tenacity for life that they may
be put upon glass and dried for days,
yes, for months or years land then at once
be rcsuscitated by drop of water. DR.
Carpenter, one of the most renowned
microscopists of Europe, states that theil
tenacity of life goes even further, as he
has kept them in a vacuum for thirty DAYS
with sulphuric acid and chloride of cal
eium, thus causing them to suffer the
most complete desiccation that the chem
ist can effect, and yet they have not lost
their capabiity of revivilication. For
this reason they have been styled the
resurrectionists, and it seems for good
cause. This wonderful power of resusci-
tation, and the fact that the rapidity OF
their reproduction as estimated by Pro-
fessor Erenberg, being from the egg at
the rate Of seventeen millions per month,
is certainly sufficient for their remarkable
appearance in almost every situation, and
under almost all circumstances.
1t has been supposed by someSthat they
were the result of spontaneous production,
but from what l have said you can see
there is no necessity for such n conclusion.
The many curiosities connected with the
life and introduction of the Rotifer, into
almost all places, of course will excite the
amateur in microscopical investigation to
search for them. That he may not be
disappointed ! will state that in the leaf
cells Of the spagnum, generally known us
bog moss, there is very curious depart
ure from the ordinary type of vegetable
growth. Instead of the usual cell tissue
their leaves contain spiral tibers, loosely
coiled in their interior, and in the mem
braneous covering of the stem, there are
nicely rounded holes, or apertures, by
which there is free communication with
the interior, us we'll as with each other
The natural caverns are appropriated by
the Rolifer, and used as dwellings.
1t is here you are sure to find them at
home.
Another species. called Aurelia, are
covered with ella, or minute hairs around
the mouth in a circle; by their agitation
animalcules much smaller are drawn into
their months and deyoured.
Again the Hydra, which may be found
in ponds and rivulets adhering to the
leaves of aquatic plants, or twigs and
sticks that have fallen into the water, is a
wonder among wonders.
1t may be subdivided many times and
yet every part will in Il few hours become
Il perfect Hydra. This name is given
them because they have many long arms,
which were supposed TO resemble the
heads of the fifty-headed water serpent
called Hydra, which fabulous history
informs us was destroyed by Hercules,
in the Lake of Lerna. They are by no
means vegetarians, and have the capabiity
of swallowing creatures as large as them
selves.
In the ordinary mode of multiplication
little budlike protuberanccs are develop
ed on their external surface, which are
soon observed to resemble the parent in
character, possessing digestive sack and
mouth
For time, however, this cavity is
connected with that of the parent, but at
last the communication is cut Off and
the young Hydra quits its attachment
and goes in quest of its own mainte-
nance.
a second generation Of buds are, how
ever, frequently seen on the young before
quitting its parent, and have counted as
many as eighteen in different stages of
development on one original stock. Again
in taking its food, it sometimes happens
that the same morsel will be seized upon
by two Hydra, when struggle cnsues,
in which the stronger gains the victory.
Sometimes each will begin to swallow
lHt SuLllc ulOlaC uulil liiS pau ColhO III
actual contact, when if the morsel does
not break, the larger deliberately swallows
his opponent, sometimes partially, so as
to compel the discharge of food by the
smaller, but frequently the entire polyp is
engulfed, But Hydra is no fit food for
Hydra, and his capacity for endurance
saves him from living tomb, for after a
time when the food is sucked out of his
mouth, the sufferer is dlsgorged with no
other loss than his dinner.
Yet perhaps the greatest curiosity is in
the reproduction of its parts. Split one
open and the separate parts will soon take
food, and in twenty-four hours are as
perfect as ever.
Strange as it may seem, all these pro-
cesess can be watched with unerring cer-
tainty, and SO interesting are the evelop-
ments, that always dislike to close the
scene, though aching eyes would at length
gain the mastery.