CHAPTER V. 



Order I. EHIZOTA. 



Fixed lolicn adult, Uiualhj inhabiting a gelatinous tube excreted from the skin; 

 foot transversely wrinkled, not retractile loithin the body, ending in an adhesive disk or 



CUj}. 



Family I. FLOSCULAEIAD.E. 



Corona, produced longitudinally into sctigerous lobes ; buccal orifice central; ciliary 

 wreath a single half circle above the buccal orifice ; trophi uncinate. 



This family, like the cue that follows it, coutaiiis some of the largest, handsomest, 

 and most attractive of the Eotifera. It consists of only two genera, Floscularia, and 

 Stcphanoceros, which closely resemble each other in their habits and internal structure, 

 but differ considerably iu outward form. The latter genus, which is represented by 

 only a single sjoecies, has its frontal lobes produced into long arms, having setiB set 

 round them in whorls ; while the former, which contains no fewer than sixteen species, 

 has the lobes comparatively short and expanded, with the setfe radiating from their 

 summits, and h-equently edging the whole rim of the corona. The two genera dift'er 

 also in the kind of tubes that they secrete. The majority of the Floscules have some 

 what irregular tubes of slight consistency ; but Stephanoceros has a thicker tube, more 

 regular in shape, and apparently of greater density. 



Both genera are to be found adhering to the common water-plants, frequently in the 

 axils of the leaves ; though some species prefer more exposed positions on the stems, or 

 on the leaves themselves. The Flosculariadce bear captivity fairly well, and may be 

 easily bred, provided that they have a good-sized trough and a plentiful supply of food ; 

 for they are greedy feeders. They hve mainly on Monads, ciliated Protozoa, &c. ; but 

 occasionally capture and swallow comparatively large animals, such as Stentors, or even 

 fi'ee swimming Botifera. In one respect, however, captirity often tells on them ; for 

 the home-bred specimens, though healthy enough, and breeding freely, are frequently 

 much inferior in size to those that are brought fresh from then' native haunts. 



Genus FLOSCULABIA, Oken. 



Generic Characters. — Frontal lobes short, expanded, or ivholly wanting ; setae 

 very long and radiating, or short and cilia-like; foot terminated by a non-retractile 

 peduncle, ending in cm adhesive disk. 



Neither pen nor pencil can do justice to the beauty of these animated flowers. It 

 can only be properly appreciated when they are seen by dark-field illumination under 

 the microscope. Then the eye is at once delighted with the filmy transparency of the 

 petaloid head, with the tiowmg curves of the lobes, and with the pencils of delicate seta; 

 radiating from tlieir summits in all directions, and often passing altogether out of the 

 field of view, hjhould, moreover, the species under observation happen to be a social 

 one, such us F. campamUata, four or hve specimens may often be found with their 



