484 J. STEVEXS, NOTE ON PROALES {N0T03I3IATA) GIGANTEA GLASCOTT, 



nor back. It took two hours to get inside. They are continually 

 twisting and turning never at rest. Miss Glascott's words are 

 " ever rolling about and inverting the extremities, to the 

 distraction of the student." 



The Rotifer bites a very small hole in the tough egg-shell 

 and bores its way into the snail's egg ; it does not attack the 

 embryo ferociously, but twists and turns in the fluid contents, 

 and is evidently feeding on it, only occasionally nibbling at the 

 embryo, which seems to take no notice, performing its slow 

 revolutions as before. But all the same, damage is being done, 

 and all signs of life have passed, in some cases, in two, and others 

 up to seven and eight days. 



As the notes are rather long, perhaps you will allow me to 

 give particulars of No. 1 only, and take that as typical of the 

 remainder. 



First day, September 13th, 2 p.m. I see one Proales not 

 full-grown ; at 9.30 there is one egg ; at 10.30 two eggs. 



Second day, 7 a.m., there are seven eggs, 10.30 eight eggs; 

 at 2.30 p.m. eleven eggs, and the first is showing signs of life. 

 Five o'clock twelve eggs ; at 8.30 the mastax of the first is 

 plainly seen at work inside its own shell ; at 10.30 it has 

 become a well-defined Rotifer. There are now thirteen eggs, 

 including the living individual noted on the first day. 



Third day, 7 a.m. The parent has left, for "fresh fields,"' 

 leaving a family of thirteen in all stages of development. 



Eleven o'clock, all are giving signs of life, some by twisting 

 themselves about strongly and others by simply twitching. 

 Snail embryo dead and disappearing ; 3.45 p.m., ten only 

 remain ; 7, seven only remain, the others having come to life 

 and gone away. Several can be seen near by, in the jelly-mass,, 

 making their way to other eggs. 



Quarter-past 9 p.m., two are still eggs, but show signs, 

 of life. 



Fourth day, 7 a.m., seven still remain ; 11.20, six only; 6 p.m.,. 

 five remain. 



Fifth day, 7 a.m., five still present, but not grown much, for 

 it seems that not only has the snail embryo disappeared, but 

 all the albuminous contents of the egg, intended for the sus- 

 tenance of the young snail, has been eaten up by the young 

 family of Proales ; 2.30 p.m., four only remain, and these aret 



