102 PLUMATELLA FRUTICOSA. 



Length of the segments about 1 mm., breadth 1 mm. Animal colourless. Ova (state- 

 blasts) oval, lenticular, with an annulus, but without spines." Leidy. 



Synonym. — 1854. Plumatella vesicularis, Leidy, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. of Philadelphia, vol. vii, 

 p. 192. 



Iconography. — No published figure. 



Habitat. — On the under side of flat stones in running water. 



Locality. — Schuylkill River, Philadelphia. Dr. Leidy. 



" This species of Plumatella is as limpid as the water in which it lives ; and it resembles 

 rows of colourless vesicles with a whitish line passing through their axis. Frequently it is 

 observed with rows of imbricated blackish eggs instead of the latter line. Patches are found 

 from a quarter of an inch to two inches square." Leidy. 



All we know of the present species is from the above short description by Dr. Leidy. 

 It seems to approach closely to Plumatella punctata, Hancock ; and the absence of an authentic 

 figure is here again much to be regretted. 



5. Plumatella fruticosa, Allman. PI. VI, figs. 3 — 5. 



Specific character. — CoencEcium irregularly branched, attached only at its origin ; cells 

 cylindrical, destitute of furrow, but obscurely keeled. Statoblasts elongated. 



Synonyms. — 1844. Plumatella fruticosa. Allman, Ann. Nat. Hist., vol. xii, p. 330. 



1846. Plumatella fruticosa. Allniau, Proc. Roy. Irish Acad., 1846. 



1847. Plumatella fruticosa. Johnston, Brit. Zoophytes, 2d edit., p. 404. 



Iconography. — No published figures. 



Habitat. — In lakes and ponds, and in rivers where the current is not too rapid, 

 attached to the under and shady side of stones and to the stems and under side of the leaves 

 of aquatic plants. Loving the shade. 



Localities. — British .- In the Regent Canal, London ; the Chelmer Canal, Essex ; 

 Grand Canal, near Dublin ; River Bandon ; a small lake near Glandore ; and in some other 

 lakes and ponds in the county of Cork. G. J. A. 



Foreign : Lake of Lucerne, and Lake Seculejo in the Pyrenees. G. J. A. 



This species delights in still and slowly-running water, where it may be seen in the form of 

 elegant little tree-like growths attached to stones and the stems of Potomogeton, Myriophyllum, 

 and various other aquatic plants. It is easily distinguished from all the other species of Pluma- 

 tella, except the free variation of P. repens, by its irregularly branched, bushy, non-adherent 



