One of the higher infusoria, whose species I could not identify, was devouring them like a porpoise among sprats. It did not, however, exhibit any sense in its hungry career; it moved about in all directions, gulping down what came in its way, but often permitting the escape of the little green things that were almost in its mouth. The little globes rolled and whirled about without the faintest indication of a purpose, and without exhibiting any instrument with which their locomotion was effected. To find out how this was done, a higher power was used, and from their extreme minuteness an amplification of seven hundred and twenty linear was conveniently employed, although a lower one (three or four hundred) disclosed the secret by showing that a little whip was flourished about through the neck, which the lower power revealed. When highly magnified, each little globe was seen to consist of an outer case of a reddish orange colour, which was noticeable on looking at the edges, although in the centre it was transparent enough to show the brilliant green contents, that resembled the chlorophyll, or green colouring matter of plants. From a short neck proceeded the whip-like filament, which was lashed and twisted about in all directions. These little creatures belong to the monad family, but whether they are to be called _Trachelomonads_, or by some other hard name, the learned must decide. The 'Micrographic Dictionary' puts a note of interrogation to the assertion of some writers that _Trachelomonads_ have no necks, and draws some with such an appendage. Pritchard's last edition is against necks, and whether the necks or no necks are to win, is a mighty question equal at least to the famous controversy, which divided the world into "big and little endians in the matter of breaking eggs." A discussion of more importance is, whether these _Cryptomonads_--that name will do whatever comes of the neck controversy--are animals or vegetables. Lachmann and Mr. Carter affirm that they have detected a contractile vesicle, which would assimulate them to the animal series, but their general behaviour is vegetable; and the 'Micrographic Dictionary' is in favour of referring them to the _Algæ_--that great family of simple plants, of which the sea-weeds are the most important representatives. [Illustration: Triarthra.]