216 F. R. D1X0N-2TUTTALL AND R. FREEMAN ON DIGLENA RO STRATA 



with long vibratile cilia. The two red eye-spots, which, under 

 high power, are slightly reniform, are simple, and not composed 

 of a cluster of red pigment, as in D. clastopis. 



The jaws are not of the usual savage type of the Diglenae. 

 The manubria are thin rods ; the unci are more like curved plates 

 than sharp hooks as in many other Diglenae. The fulcrum is 

 short and thin ; the rami widen out triangularly at the base. 



The dorsal and lateral antennae are well marked and in the 

 usual position. The brain is long and clear. The gastric glands 

 are large and clear, and easy of observation. 



The whole animal is particularly hyaline, none of the specimens 

 observed contained any brown food-matter, as is invariably the 

 case in D. clastojns. The ovary, contractile vesicle, and other 

 organs are normal. 



We are strongly of opinion that this rotifer finds its food upon 

 the roots of water weeds, because we never found a single example 

 without deep dredging. 



On those occasions when we dredged deeply we always found it. 

 On other occasions, in the very same spot and at the same time 

 when water and weeds were gathered from the surface, not a 

 single specimen was found. 



When disturbed from the roots of the weeds it is restless, swims 

 gracefully, and buries itself rapidly in any flocculent matter it 

 can find. 



It is far from common, and we seldom obtained more than a 

 few out of a large gathering, though the water was carefully 

 examined for it ; but by visiting its special locality several times 

 we hj-ve been able to secure numerous specimens, and to subject 

 it to careful and repeated examination. 



Total length, yig in. (240 jx) ; toes alone, ^-j in. (53 /x) 4 width 

 of body, 5^4q in. (46 /x). Habitat : The large lake, Knowsley 

 Park, Lancashire. 



Explanation of Plate 9. 



Fig. 1. Diglena rostrata, side view x 475. 

 ,,2. „ „ dorsa 



,, 3. ,, „ jaws. 



,, 2. „ „ dorsal view x 475. 



Journ. Qv.ekett Microscopical Club, Ser. 2, Vol. VI II., No. 50, April 1902. 



