144 II. W. KINC (»N I'ON'D LIKK FROM THhl WEST INDTKs. 



earth itself by pushing forward its very long horn and tapering 

 head (Fig. 9, PI. VIII.), with two ruby-coloured eyes, and 

 cautiously expanding its cilia to vibrate like revolving wheels. 



This Rotifer, unlike the last-described, but like most of the 

 larger wheel-bearing kinds, is very sensitive to vibration and 

 sound. It sometimes assumes a quiescent form when away 

 from earthy protection, among the stems of water plants, and 

 will remain a considerable time in this condition, apparently 

 resting (Fig. 8, PI. VIII.) ; at another time it bends its body over, 

 reclining in a grotesque manner (Fig. 7, PI. YIII.). May not 

 this habit be a protective one, a simulating a worm, a growing 

 alga, or some other form of life different to its own, so that 

 other life preying upon it in its normal condition would not be 

 so liable to recognize it in its assumed form ? 



While these brief and fragmentary notes of the habits of the 

 few forms of life living and carried in the small vessels of water 

 given to me from the West Indies illustrate the ever-acting law 

 of adaptability of life — and more in the case of the tube-dwelling 

 Rotifers where they develop the simple action of adaptability to 

 a higher function, that of construction, and where they not only 

 adapt, but from materials build repetitions of the tubes that 

 form their habitations — there are other forms in the water of 

 Rotifers, Vorticellfe, and a variety of life interesting alike from 

 their forms and habits, which time has not enabled me to study. 



Explanation op Plate VIII. 



Fig. 1. — Fermdariatubiformis^ U.S. yeiLtended. a. Ruby-coloured 

 eye supported on elevation. bb. Expanding and 

 contractile prominences. c. Curved claws, with 

 articulated clawlets. d, e. Caudal muscles largely 

 developed in this species. /. Stomach, g. Rectum. 

 j. Anus. h. Pharynx, i. Pharyngeal muscles. 



Fig, 2. — Fercularia tubiformis, side view partially contracted. 

 a. Eye. b. Expanding prominences, c. Claws. 

 d. Clawlets. e. Stomach. /'. Rectum, both con- 

 taining diatoms, gg. 



Pig. 3. — Enlarged ventral view of claw. a. Showing arrange- 

 ment of clawlets, bb. 



Fig. 4. — Fercularia tubiformis dried, showing carapace like 

 nature of dorsal integument. 



