THE GENUS HABROTROCHA. 641 



viscous fluid is produced in some such way to bind together 

 the sheltering particles or fibres. In several respects this rotifer 

 has marked affinity to Habrotrocha elegans (Milne), which has a 

 similar shelter-taking habit. But the head and the corona are 

 larger in proportion, the foot is less hidden beneath the rump ; 

 the spurs are stouter, though rather like in style and pose, and 

 the teeth of the rami are five in number. 



When feeding, the animal usually bends the anterior part of 

 the body, protruded from the " shelter," to one side or the 

 other, or even backwards, but I have not seen any extravagant 

 contortions of the neck. It lives fairly well in small troughs, and 

 even in small cells I have kept it for over two months. 



The form and proportions of the upper lip as shown in 

 fig. la (PI. 39) seem rather distinctive. The lateral margins of 

 the mouth are slightly prominent, but less so than in //. pavida. 

 The underlip is slightly produced and spout-like. In one case I 

 saw the pellets being formed at a distance of about 15 /x behind 

 the rami, and the oesophagus seemed to be from 20 to 25 /x long. 

 The pellets made are small to moderate in size. On several 

 occasions the rather long and normally placed brain seemed to 

 me to show reddish blotches as of suffused pigment, but I failed 

 to detect any definite eye-spots, such as are so distinct in the 

 cognate Habrotrocha collaris Ehrbg. When apparently fully 

 protruded the dorsal antenna measured about 19 /x. In the 

 feeding position it is inclined forwards, almost resting against 

 the retracted rostrum, but towards the tip it is slightly recurved. 



The terminal foot joint is stout at the base, but tapers rapidly, 

 and on two occasions I have seen three short, stout, truncate 

 toes protruded. 



The eggs are laid within the " shelter " and are of oval outline, 

 smooth and hyaline ; measuring about 57-60 /x in longest, and 

 39-40 /x in shortest diameter. 



Length, 300-350 /x. Spurs, 6 /x. Width of corona, 35-38 p. 



From rock moss from summit of Ben Vrackie, Perthshire 

 (1907). In moss close to a waterfall near Milford, South Wales, 

 collected by Mr. G. K. Dunstall. In ncrustation of stones from. 

 Untersee, and in mosses from Mittersee, Lunz, Austria, sent me 

 by Dr. von Brehm, of the Lunz Biological Station (1911-13). 



Jourx. Q. M. C, Series II. No. 77. 36 



