The Rotatorian Genus Diaschiza. 9 



prone; corona extending well down ventral surface of head; 

 lorica not unusually flexible ; dorsal cleft wide, fairly distinct ; 

 lateral cleft wide, especially towards posterior extremity ; eye 

 frontal, double ; foot stout, about one-quarter length of lorica ; toes 

 about one-third length of rest of body, straight, furcate, style- 

 shaped. 



Gosse describes this species from a single specimen, and his 

 drawing is so weak, that were it not for his mention of the massive 

 foot with its over-arching tail, it would be difficult to identify. 



From a lateral view the body is slightly arched dorsally, almost 

 straight ventrally. 



The lorica ends somewhat abruptly over a stout foot. 



The distinctive feature of this species, the above-mentioned tail, 

 is a fleshy projection which varies somewhat in the extent to which 

 it projects. Viewed dorsally, it conies to an almost acute point. 



The seta? on the foot are exceedingly short and fine, and hence 

 very difficult to observe, and it was not until one of Zeiss's apo- 

 chromatic oil-immersion lenses was brought to bear upon them 

 that they were discovered. 



The projection over the foot, by its contact with the point from 

 which they invariably originate, has probably reduced them to 

 these small dimensions. 



The dorsal and lateral clefts are so distinctly marked, that we 

 have no hesitation in transferring this species to the genus 

 Diaschiza. 



The dorso-frontal point of the collar projects slightly. 



The eye, which is distinctly frontal, consists of two quite 

 separate reniform red spots inside a clear hollow sphere. 



The jaws are of the gibba type with a very marked crutch to 

 the manubria. 



In the toe, the under edge is quite straight, the upper curves 

 down from the wide base to meet the lower in an acute point, 

 hence Gosse's description gives it as slightly decurved. 



This species is often very beautiful owing to the green or 

 yellow spores with which it fills its stomach. We have seen 

 specimens which exhibit quite a cluster of vivid emeralds. 



Size. — Total length j^j in. to ^^ in. (181-127 fi) ; toes alone 

 g-^ G in. to jl -q in. (41-34 fi) ; breadth and height ±\q in. to ^ q in. 

 (62-42 fi). 



The larger examples were from Dundee ; the smaller were 

 adult specimens from this neighbourhood (Lancashire). 



Not common, but occurring frequently in certain localities. 



