666 Transactions of the Society. 



The present communication deals with the Bdelloids obtained 

 in those three localities. 



The moss reached me in the dry condition, and was moistened 

 in fresh, cold water. The study of the Eotifers was made within 

 a few hours after moistening the moss, as very few of them will 

 survive for any length of time. Most of the examples found had 

 made the journey in the contracted state, though some may have 

 hatched out from eggs. A Bdelloid which has been dried for a 

 long time may generally be recognised by the condition of the 

 intestine, the contents of which form a compact ball of dark colour, 

 which does not soften and expand for some time after the animal 

 has resumed full activity. 



Old Calabar. 



The material received from this district looked very unpromis- 

 ing. There seemed to be little true moss in it, but a sort of whitish 

 dust containing many vegetable fragments, which might be leaves. 

 When moistened it made a sort of porridge. 



It was very poor, but yielded four species of Bdelloids, and 

 only one example of each, except Gallidina longiceps, which was 

 abundant. 



C. angusticollis Murray (-/).* — The typical case measured 166 // 

 in length. The contained animal did not extend itself. 



C. 'perforata Murray (5). — Only the empty case was seen. It 

 was like the Indian type, but there was an obscure panelling of 

 the surface, as in the var. americaiia Murray (6). 



C. longiceps Murray (4). — Till it reappeared in Old Calabar, 

 this species was only known from a very few examples found in 

 Loch Morar, in Scotland. 



There was some doubt as to whether the very peculiar case which 

 it inhabits was a normal structure appertaining to the species, or had 

 merely been adopted for shelter. The case is of an irregular flask- 

 shape, jagged at the mouth, of a yellow colour, the surface traversed 

 by numerous curved lines. 



The great abundance of the cases in Calabar, each case contain- 

 ing a Bdelloid with the correct dental formula, renders it certain 

 that the case is proper to the species, though it was never seen in 

 process of formation. None were seen actually feeding, but several 

 were seen partly extended. 



C, multispiaosa Thompson (7) var. brevispinosa var. n., 

 plate XV. figs. 1 to 4. 



Distinctive Characters. — Spines all short, few on anterior trunk- 

 segments. Central surface of trunk transversely plicate and crenate 

 with papilla?. 



* The figures in brackets refer to the bibliography at end of paper. 



