JOURNAL 



OF THE 



ROYAL MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY. 



OCTOBEE, 1879. 



TEANSACTIONS OF THE SOCIETY. 



XXX. — On a Neiv Sj^ecies of Cothurnia. By John Davis, F.K.M.S. 



(^Bead Uf.h May, 1879.) 



Plate XX. 



On recently examining some sea-water, I discovered a colony of 

 Infusoria, which for brilHancy of colour and ■ peculiarity of form, 

 differ, I think, from any species hitherto described. 



The water was taken from the " sea-horse " tank in the vestibule 

 of the Brighton Aquarium (by the kind permission of Mr. Lawler, 

 the tank manager). The animals were attached to Conferva which 

 had been growing on the rocks for about three years, and some 

 small twigs placed there for the Hippocampi were completely 

 covered with them. They undoubtedly belong to the genus 

 Cothurnia. 



The lorica is generally indistinctly divided into three or four 

 transverse segments, or rings, and is attached by a pedicle to the 

 Confervas. It is apparently horny, and is of a bright orange 

 colour, but with a condensed, side, light inclines to a yellowish 

 brown, similar to the colour observed on the tube of Melicerta 

 ringens. This colour is deeper at the lower end of the tube, and 

 becomes gradually fainter towards the distal extremity, where 

 scarcely any trace of colour is seen. 



EXPLANATION OF PLATE XX. 



Fig. L — Animal protruded, a a, forked sette. 6, operculum, c, outer wreath 

 of cilia, (^t/, contructile vesicks. e, unknown organ. /, clear space. .</, posterior 

 processes, h, strengthening band, j, prolongations of footstalk, k, central wreath 

 of cilia. 



Fig. 2. — Animal contracted, a, operculum, h h, contractile vesicles, c, unknown 

 organ. </, muscular bands beneath the operculum. 



Fig. 3. — Individual with young attached, a, unknown organ. 6, free end. 

 c, contractile vesicle, d, egg-like bodies, ef, contractile vesicles, g, ui'known 

 organ. 



Fig. 4. — Young animal, a, wreath of cilia, b, end of lorica. 



Fig. 5. — Young animal. a, rudimentary operculum, b body of adult, 

 c, eud of lorica, d, unknown organ. 



VOL. II. * 2 X 



