The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-08-09
LIFE IN A STAGN.lST POM
A world Fiiied with Counties. K,,s.
BeisEs. from lnfusoria to Fros. %

Ia
tho woods, filed with nastiness and di..n..
Ing OF smell. 10 world rerlete with iasc,ns,.
Ing interest. the home Of countless Kind, :,
beings. strange and wonderful
To begin with, the water teens wi h mvr,a.
OF the very minute animals called in,uso,,.
creatures OF varied and curious shnpes son.
naked and others protected by limy shelIs n,
these there arc hundreds Of eorts. iesembl,,.
when aeon undor the microscope. coins, HON.
stars. trumpcts pitchers. aud wheels. M,s,
appear also in the forms OF fruits neckl,s..
TASKS. tunnels. fans. and so for,b al H.
flnitum. very common ono Is caIl,d ~.
flower cum" being In the likeness Of q cry.,,,
vase containing what looks like the bl,sso.
Of a plant 80 small is this specimen th.,
13.00O,0o0 Of them may To comprised vltblns
single drop OF water. These little beings b,,.
eyes. muscular structure. and eyen neryon,
systoms OF their own. rs 1t is believed Thu,
move swiftly in pursuit Of proy by means =,
oars and a few Of ihom actually have c...
with which to grasp Some OF them lay orc,
other bring forth their young alive, WIN.
others still are propugated BIZ division, s..h
ono separating into two. A few species us
big enough to DO seen with the nakei eve. sns
one such. called the Stentor because Of N
trumpet share, is particularly ferocious, d.
vourlng great quantities OF it's smaller cousIna
More interesting even than those are tbs
ewarma OF minute diatoms creatures OF a
vegetable nature. which IRE chiefly remarkah,.
for tho elaborate beauty OF their shells Thu
latter arc bivalvular. like those Of q musssl
Some are like little boxes. exuusi.ey mads,
others resemble boats. hearts. dominoss Ia
There is ono sort that has been called ,hs
"Shield Of Achilles" because each hall OF n,
disk shaped shell 10 cut in concentrc circle.
with . complicated trnccry OF designs Ia
many varieties the valves seem ornamental
with SO flne lace work that TO din.
tinguIsh the patterns is considered the
best possible test OF the power OF n
microscope. Inasmnch MS the higgest opss
can hardly be seen with the unnilcd eye. one
kind IL separated from another for purpose. Of
study By pouring tho water containing them
from one beaker into another. then into still
another. and 80 on. each time allowing IL brief
time for them to settle partly Those which
arc heavier roach the bottom Of the vessels be.
foro the lighter sorts. and thus the different
species nre separated by weight for mounting
finally upon glass object 8 ides. To obta tho
clean shells they are boiled in nitric acid and
treated with caustic potash.
TheIe are plenty Of creatures In the stngnant
pool. however, which may oe seen without tho
aid OF . microscope. For examIls. there are
polyps animals about quarter OF IN inch In
length. which look like little tubes Of Jelly "a
thick as bristle. with thread-like arms for
Selling thoir prey. They are incredibly fierce
and naturnllsts believe that they possess the
power to paralyze their victims By electric
shocks In the manner OF tho torpedo ilsh and
the electric eel. In this way only can he fac,
DO explained thnt their slender tentaclos are
able to secure game com paratively go large
and powerful A specimen has been seen 10
Grasp two large worms at tho same time and
yet the latter. though struggling desper.
ately for their lives. were unable to break
away. and In IL moment lost all power Of mo.
ton Now and then a swelling appears on
one part or another OF the polyp's body. and
from each such protuberance finally appeArsa
young polyp. which separates from it's parents
when 1t is sufficiently grown to take care OF
itself. Itany portion OF the animal is cut o., II
soon grows again. One that is chopped In two
quickly becomes two perfect individuals Fur.
thermore. II turned inside out like o Rlorsis
accommodates itself 10 tho new arrangement
the original outer skin performing. as o lining
OF the interior. the ONCE Of digestion.
Among tho most curious OF the pool's inhab.
itan,s arc the larvT OF various insects. Most
conspicuous OF these is the mosquito in 10
aquatic stage. when it is fed upon voraciousy
by the lsrva OF the dragon fly. or darnlna
needle as 1t Is often called, which resembles
ferce-looking worm. It Is we'll known that
the dragon fly Is an equally dangerous foe to
the mosquito whom both have acquired wings
To illustrate this the writer will venture to tell
q true mosquito story. On Cape Cod there lss
great fresh-water pond. formed originally BY
an advance OF the ocean. which gave such
alarm n few years ago that dyke was con.
struoted along the shore line to keep back
the waves. Inside the dyke the water.
which had formed sort OF lake. gradually be.
came fresh. coarse grass grew thickly iu
and 1t was transformed into an ideal breeding
place for mosquitoes. As tho latter rise in
swarms from this morass. myriads OF dragon
flies hover to Toward In walt to capture their
favorite prey. So enormous are the numbers
thus eaten that on summers day In tho wind
ripple made 10 the sand ono may easily sweep
together within fow minutes moro than :
bushel Of dead mosquitoes. only tho sholls oil
the insect being loft by the dragon flies alter
sucking out the juices.
Among the most humorous Of the Visible oo-
OF tho s!agnant pool are the larvD OF
The May fly. which in seasons unusually favor.
able to their production sometimes visit towns
IN such numbers. being blown before the " ind.
Is TO litter tho streets. many cart loads OF them
being on occasion swept up and carried 10 the
Jumps. Another remarkable insect found in
The Shiny water 10 called the "monoculus"
and is covered with Il delicate shell marked
With 80 lne network as to prescott tho 40.
pearanee OF mosaic. This valve 10 perfectly
transparent consisting OF a single piece with.
out hinge or Joint. but sufficiently elastic 10
permit the animal to open it at pleasure. 1t
Affords protection not only to its OCCUPANT but
also to the young OF this latter. which swim
Into It whom danger threatens. the shell
opening for their reception and closing
ns soon as they have entered. Mention should
not BIO neglected OF many kinds Of wator beetles|
which arc very voracious. and arc armed with
strong claws for crashing their proy aud tear.
Ing 1. to pieces. II a fcw ar put in the same
vessel together. they will fight with the utmost
ferocity. At the bottom. among the woods and
leaves. are found cer.s!n caterpillar-like anl'
mails. which arc. nenrly TRANSPARENT. This
species is called the "lurco." or "gIutton," It's
entire body being occupied by q series OF
stomachs.
Ever no many kinds OF aquatic worms ma
their homo in the pool. bling often 20 nulnet'
Gus In the shadows rs 10 color tho Huo req.
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