424 G. WESTERN ON SOME FOREIGN ROTIFERS. 



small, and usually hidden by the opaque dark matter in the 

 digestive organs. I have also, by the way, frequently seen this 

 Eotifer, when swimming, protrude auricles as large as those of any 

 other species. 



The presence or absence of setae is also a very unreliable 

 character, for instance, Euchlanis lyra is said to have none on the 

 foot ; I find them both with and without setae, and I see Bilfinger 

 states that his specimens had four setae. Philodina megalotrocha 

 is said to have only one seta on the antennae. In what I believe 

 to be that species I always find the usual bunch of setae. In 

 Copeus pachyuimSj Gosse could not see the occipital antenna, but 

 it is certainly present, and the lumbar tentacles, though said to be 

 without set£e, will be found to have the usual bunch. 



Lastly, I have one or two problems for your solution. 



1. Are there not two distinct varieties (or species ?) of Polyarthra 

 platyptera, viz., a large square-shaped one and a much smaller 

 triangular-shaped one ? 



2. Is the Limnias, with the ringed tube, which we find about 

 London, and notably at the Botanical Gardens, really to be 

 identified with Limnias annulatus, Cubitt ? The horny processes 

 or hooks on dorsal side are seven instead of five described, or six as 

 figured, and the distance between the rows does not correspond with 

 the width of the rings of the tube. The tube also is always opaque 

 in the centre, and not transparent throughout, as would appear 

 from the figure. Does anyone know where to find the type species ? 



3. What is the CEcistes with the broad corona, which has been 

 found for years at the Botanical Gardens, and called " Umbella," 

 ** Stygis," and '' Crystallinus ? " I don't consider that it agrees 

 with either of these, all three of which I know very well. It has 

 several peculiarities, which would, I think, justify its separation as 

 a distinct species. 



4. Is Asplanchna polymorphous — I mean, may we consider that 

 the species we recognize are more than varieties in the life history 

 of one or two species? I have a suspicion that we have still much to 

 learn about this genus of Rotifer ; I believe I have seen evidence 

 on this subject published in some continental journal, but can we 

 not find some for ourselves ? 



5. What about a male in the Bdelloida ? Can no one solve this 

 problem ? 



6. Has anyone, since Gosse, noticed anything about Proales 



