Views of the Microscopic World; Designed for General Reading, and as a Hand-Book for Classes in Natural Science (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1851 Excerpt: ... is covered with a delicate shell, presenting by its fine reticulations the appearance of mosaic work. This envelope, with its minute divisions, is beheld in the drawing at a, and encases nearly the entire body of the animal. In some species the shell is adorned with diamond-shaped figures, in others its surface is composed of, hexagons like that of a honey-comb; and a diversity of other angular figures embellish the cases in the different remaining varieties of the Lynceus. The shell is perfectly transparent, and consists of a single piece without hinge or joint; being sufficiently elastic to permit the animal to open it at pleasure. The position of the edges of the opening, is indicated in the figure, on the under side, by the letter b. Not only is the animal itself protected by this delicate case, but it affords a secure retreat for the young when danger is near. They then escape from the approaching peril by swimming within the shell of the parent, which the latter opens for their reception, and closes as soon as their entrance is effected. The two eyes of the Lynceus at d are of different sizes and are of a deep black hue; while the rest of the animal is buff, approaching to orange. The beak is seen at c, and the two horns or feelers at g. Within the shell is a row of four false feet, easily discerned, that assist the Lynceus in creeping along the stalks of plants, to which it attaches itself by pressing their sides with the edges of its shell in the manner of a pair of pincers. These members also subserve another purpose, causing the animal, as it advances through the water, to proceed with a revolving motion; in which action it is also aided by the appendage I, which, striking against the water like a fin, renders the rotatory motion of the Lynceus m...