137 



Observations on the Habits of Some Pond Life prom the 

 West Indies. 



By Henry W. King. 

 Plates VIII. and IX. 



(Read September 16fJi, 1892.) 



Some months ago I suggested to a friend travelling to the 

 West Indies the possibility of bringing pond life from there to 

 this country alive for observation. Knowing the extremes of 

 heat and cold and altered conditions in which lower life in 

 general can live, it seemed quite feasible, and my friend, a Mr. 

 Inglis, kindly offered to bring some with him on his return 

 journey. 



I received from him two jars containing dippings from Port 

 Limon and the Island of Colon. 



Flag plants grew there, and shrubs and trees flourished by the 

 water's side, providing shade and shelter to alligators bathing 

 in the waters. Naturally favourable spots for microscopic life, 

 it was not surprising some interesting forms should be found 

 living and preying either upon the vegetable or the excrement 

 and remains of animal life abounding there. 



The waters were clear, with sedimentary matter at the 

 bottom, that from Port Limon having by far the most, and was 

 of a darker colour than that brought from Colon. All the 

 water plants in both dippings were dead and discoloured, 

 through decay, but the forms of some were partially retained, 

 and the remains of grass stems and roots could be distinguished 

 in the former dipping, while in the latter I have no doubt there 

 were the remains of plants of a species of Chara or Nitella. 



A glance with a lens at the waters at once revealed their 

 animated condition. A Cypris would glide with alternate 

 opening and closing valves over the sedimentary refuse, and 

 small worms and Rotifers were swimming freely through the 

 water and among the remains of vegetation from Colon, while 



