410 



ROTIFERA. 



in others, as Dinocharis paupera (fig. 302.), 

 and many of the Philodinaea. The tail is 



Fig. 298. 



opening and closing the processes on each 

 side, and apparently holding on to any object 

 by their means. Many genera, as Conochilus, 

 Floscularia, Stephanoceros, and others, have 

 no fork, but remain fixed by their tails. Even 

 in species which have forked tails, as in the 

 Philodinaea, the creatures seem to have the 

 power of fixing themselves independently of 

 their fork. It would thus seem not impro- 

 bable that the tail in these cases acts as a 

 kind of sucker. 



Fig. 299. 



Notommata longiseta. 

 a, single eye ; b, anal orifice. 



often furnished with supplementary setae, or 

 bristles, and in Pterodina it is terminated with 

 a row of vibratile cilia. The tail is used as a 

 rudder, an oar, and a hold-fast. When styli- 

 form, it seems used as a rudder, although in 

 some cases apparently employed to propel the 

 animal. When furcated it has the power of 



Rotifer vulgaris. (After Ehrenberg.} 



a, orifice of proboscis ; b, eyes ; c, prpbiscoid pro- 

 cess ; d, spur or respiratory tube ; e, jaws ; f, ali- 

 mentary canal; g, g, g, g, transverse vessels; 

 h, muscular fibres ; ', t, seminal canals ; *, young 

 animal. 



