H. W. KIXG ON PONJ) LIFE FROM THE WEST FNDIES. 139 



this manner sometimes a couple of days in one tube. Some- 

 times they partially protrude from the tube, thrusting the pro- 

 boscis in all directions, as if to find the whereabouts of other 

 stems, and then, as if fearful of danger, darting back in the tube 

 as a Mellicerta will do, as though quite conscious of the pro- 

 tective nature of the acquired tube. In doing so, the head is 

 often drawn in so as to throw a fold of the integument partially 

 over it. When feeding upon the vegetable or animal matter 

 softened by maceration in the water, the trunk is mostly curved 

 back over its head, that the mouth, situated upon the under 

 side of the head, near the base of the trunk of the animal, may 

 the better reach the food (Fig. 2, PI. IX.). 



The aperture of the mouth is opened like lips, and the 

 oesophageal bulb (Fig. 2, a, PL IX.) is thrust forward beyond 

 the lip-like opening, and by a series of quick thrusting out and 

 retractile motions of the cesophagus, the food is torn from what 

 it is adhering to, and quickly, passes into the stomach by the 

 relaxation of sphincter muscles at the larger end. After 

 remaining there but a very short time, the food is released by 

 other sphincter muscles at the base of the stomach, and it 

 passes into the intestine, through which it is quickly carried 

 by the peristaltic action of the muscles composing its walls. 

 When the animal is actively engaged in feeding, the remains of 

 the food are expelled in about seven minutes from the time it 

 enters the gullet, to be preyed upon b}^ small Rotifers, Diatoms, 

 and Monads. 



These worms, wallowing in numbers among decaying and 

 decayed matter, and nearly always feeding, must have a power- 

 ful influence in keeping water pure in a tropical climate, by 

 quickly devouring the refuse falling in the water from animals, 

 insects, and vegetation, seeming, by the quick and almost per- 

 petual action of their digestive system, to change and so prepare 

 the refuse in the water that it may become adapted as food for 

 lower life living there. 



Associated with these worms, living among them, and some- 

 times utilizing vegetable tubes adapted by the worms, is a 

 curious active little Rotifer, very numerous in the dipping from 

 Colon. 



This Rotifer, which I propose naming Fercularia tubiformisi 

 has a broader head than the trunk, tapering slightly to the 



