A JSfeiv Rotifer, Lacinularia striolata. 31 



glands are derived from the nutritive yolk matter, as they can 

 be seen developed in the ova in an advanced stage. When once 

 emptied these glands do not fill again, but disappear. It seems 

 highly probable that they are a special development providing 

 the animals with a supply of material to lay the foundation of 

 of the peduncle before the animals can obtain food to manu- 

 facture into mucous and cement. There must be some vestige 

 of these glands remain, for the colony produces cement material 

 throughout life. VVitli growth the foot becomes greatly elongated 

 and attenuated, and the mucous glands exist along its whole 

 length, becoming larger as the foot widens. Examination of 

 many adult individuals failed to discover any trace of these 

 special cement glands. Possibly these glands may be receptacles 

 storing up the materials until I'equired and disappearing when 

 no longer needed, the cement then being poured out as it is 

 produced. It is thus seen that colonies are not increased in 

 numbers by the addition of descendants of the founders, but are 

 the result of a swarming process. No case of young and adult 

 animals co-existing in a colony was met with. L. retiailata}- I 

 have observed does increase by the addition of the young rotifers, 

 and colonies of this form have been met with 20 to 2o mm. 

 diameter. Also free swimming colonies of Z. elUptica^^ where 

 the young are found at one pole of the axis, and the adults at 

 the other. One interesting point remains to be determined, viz., 

 the formation of a colony from the resting eggs. When once 

 originated the production of numerous colonies will result from 

 a plentiful food supply. Thus on the occasion of gathering the 

 animals used in this work the water was thick with a minute 

 form, probably a flagellate protozoon, on which the animals 

 fed. In one case where the animals were numerous, they were 

 found to appear, culminate, and disappear in about six weeks. 



The specific characters of this form may be summarised as 

 follows: — Colonies spherical when adult; with peduncle; matrix 

 gelatinous. Female: with foot four-fifths of total length ; corona 

 heax't-shaped, as wide as body, and moderately inclined to trunk ; 

 no dorsal gap ; two small venti^al antennfe, wide apart ; two 

 eyes. Young female : with ciliated cup at termination of foot ; 



1 Anderson and Shephard, Proc. Roy. Soc. Vict., vol. iv., N.S., 1S9-2, p. 73. 



2 J. Shephard, Vict. Naturalist, vol. xv., p. 73. 



