HARD WICKE'S SCIENCE-G OS SI P. 



243 



access to a pond once in six or even in twelve 

 months is quite sufficient to afford material for 

 investigation during the interval. I have two small 

 aquaria of the bell-glass type, the one 10 inches, the 

 other 9 inches in diameter, the former devoted to 

 goldfish, the latter restricted to the more militant 

 stickleback. This I have had in my study for some 

 five months. It contains weed brought from one of 

 the ponds in the grounds of the Crystal Palace — 

 anacharis, myriophyllum, &c, and also some water 

 from the same source. I have been struck with the 

 marvellous variety of infusorial life that can be 

 preserved and propagated in captivity with apparatus 

 so simple, and with no attention beyond that neces- 

 sary to keep the water to one level, owing to 

 evaporation. After the aquarium had been in work- 

 ing order for four or five weeks, occasional samples 

 of the water showed an unusually large representation 

 of rotatoria, including some of the choicest forms. I 

 took a random dip with a zoophyte trough 2 inches 

 by % inch, taking, with the water, a few detached, 

 half-decomposed leaves of myriophyllum, with the 

 following result in rotifers alone : Flosadaria ornata, 

 Ptcrodina patina, Furcularia longiseta, Dinocharis 

 pocillum, Cohinis (?), Mastigocerca carinata, Salpina 

 mucronata and brevispina, Monostyla cornuta, Philo- 

 dina citrina, Notommata aurita, larinulata, and 

 tripus, CEcistes crystallinus, Metopidia solidus,. Rat- 

 tulus tigris, Euchlanis triquttra, Rotifer vulgaris, 

 Cathypna luna, Brachionus rubens, Cephalosiphon 

 limnias. This was pretty good for one sampling. 

 The next day I took another, and found the following 

 additional forms : Flosadaria campanidata, Stephan- 

 oceros cichomii, Melicerta ringens and Tubicolaria 

 (? tyro), Proales tigridia, Mastigocerca elongata ; and 

 I have since found Flosadaria cornuta, F, calva, F. 

 longicaudata (described by Dr. Hudson as "rare"), 

 F. ambigua, Synchceta tremida, besides others that I 

 have not yet had leisure to identify. My surprise 

 has been excited at finding in captivity forms that 

 I have long sought for in their various habitats in 

 vain. My goldfish aquarium has from time to time 

 yielded me some exceedingly rich treasures, amongst 

 them several varieties indicated as "rare" in the 

 invaluable monograph of Dr. Hudson and Mr. 

 Gosse, e.g., Floscularia triloba ta, F. edentata, CEcistes 

 serpentinus, &c. 



In the same water I have within the last few days 

 seen the following miscellaneous specimens of pond 

 life : Caidhocamptus minutus, C/netonotus larus, 

 Vaginicola crystallina, V. decumbens, Ophrydium 

 sessile, Stentor Mulleri, S. Barrctti, Loxophyllum 

 ■meleagris, Lyncims spharica, Kerona polyporum, 

 Halteria grandinella, Podophrya mollis, Cypris rep- 

 tans, Platycola decumbens, Operadaria nutans, Hydra 

 vulgaris, Stylotricha remex, Stylonychia mytilus, 

 Authophysa vegetans, Arcella mdgaris, A. discoides, 

 Salpinguca ampJwridium, Centropyxis aadeata, Vorti- 

 cella convallaria, V. microstoma (and several other 



species), Milnesium lardigradum, Angiullula fluva- 

 tilis, Dero obtitsa, Actinophrys sol, Aiiucba proleus, 

 A. vdlosa, Chcetogaster limned, Difflugia pyrifornus, 

 Spirostomum ambiguum, Saprolegnia, Lophopus crys- 

 tallinus, &c, besides the common varieties of 

 diatomacea.', conferva;, &c. These I have catalogued 

 indiscriminately as they came under my notice, and, 

 did time permit, I could, of course, add to the list 

 indefinitely ; but the enumeration I have given will 

 show that with a 9-inch bell-glass and a microscope 

 the zoologist has ample scope for exploration. I 

 continually come across numerous species of ento- 

 mostraca, rhizopoda, &c, not mentioned above, also 

 of planarian and naidian worms. Is there any good 

 monograph on the latter ? 



Joseph Halsey. 



ON THE FOSSILIFEROUS ROCKS 

 AROUND WORCESTER, 



As represeided by the Specimens in the Local Museum 

 in cojinection with the Worcester Public Library and 

 Hastings Museum. 



By F. T. Spackman. 



NO district in the country probably is more 

 replete with interest to the palaeontologist 

 than that of which Worcester forms the centre. 

 Although no fossils are found in the immediate 

 neighbourhood of the city, other vestiges of the past 

 no less interesting may sometimes be found by the 

 careful observer ; while at various points in almost 

 every direction and within easy walking distance of 

 the city, fossils in abundance of various ages may be 

 found. To the west of the city, in the vicinity of 

 the Abberley and Malvern Hills, Silurian fossils — 

 Crustacea, crinoids, corals, and mollusca, abound. 

 To the east, in the direction of Himbleton, Crowle, 

 and Broughton Hacket, interesting reptilian remains 

 occur, and to the north and south, within a short 

 distance by rail, fossils of the carboniferous and 

 oolitic epochs respectively are well developed and 

 may be easily obtained. 



The pleasures open to the fossil hunter cannot be 

 realised by the uninitiated. It has been well said by 

 Reade that " Stones are curious things; if a man is 

 paid for breaking them, he is wretched ; but if he 

 can bring his mind to do it gratis, he is at the 

 summit of content." The study of palaeontology has 

 many advantages beyond the mere gratification 

 afforded by the gathering of fresh specimens or the 

 discovery of unique forms, and not the least beneficial 

 is the fact that the student is led away from the busy 

 scenes of every-day life, the; cares and worries of 

 business are forgotten, and the mind and body are 

 refreshed and invigorated, in the pursuit of knowledge 

 under these circumstances. Moreover, the science 

 itself is of absorbing interest, and becomes most 



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