-RATTULIDA. 61 
form. I did not discern any eye, but do not doubt its presence in life. None of the 
viscera showed any peculiarity. 
This species I met with at the beginning of October 1885, among sediment furnished 
me by Mr. Bolton. It was just dead ; but afforded me a good observation. A week or 
two later, the empty lorica of another example occurred from the same ditch ; and, a little 
afterwards, in water from Bracebridge Pool, still from Mr. Bolton, I found it yet again. 
And since, from Mr. Hood. The characters were constant in all.—P.H.G.] 
Length, 2 to 2, inch; lorica, ;}; inch; depth at middle of ridge, +4; inch. 
Habitat. Birmingham; Dundee. Pools: rare (P.H.G.). 
M. scirio, Gosse, sp. nov. 
(Pl. XX. fig. 11.) 
[SP. CH. Body sub-cylindrical, slightly larger in front, thick and round behind ; 
the front of the lorica set with three spines ; a long low ridge considerably on the right 
side; toe half the length of the lorica; sub-styles one-fourth the length of the toe. 
Greatest width about one-eighth of total length. 
This and the following two species have much in common; yet are distinguished by 
details of form and structure. The general outline differs in each, as shown in the 
figures. The particulars detailed in the technical Spec. char. of each, though minute, 
seem trustworthy. What appears distinctive of the present is that the front edge of the 
lorica, otherwise smoothly truncate, carries three projecting spines, one occipital and 
two lateral, each of which runs down the outside of the lorica for a short distance as a 
sharp ridge. There is thus a certain resemblance to M. bicornis. 
The general outline is that of a stout straight stick, thickened slightly near the head, 
with both ends rounded abruptly. At the extremity a very low ridge is seen, which 
runs up, considerably to the right of the medial dorsal line, almost imperceptibly at 
length, to the very front. The foot, which is short and bulbous, is contained within the 
rounded end of the trunk, but carries, attached to it by a very facile jomt, a toe in 
the form of a slender spine, about two-fifths as long as the lorica. The spine, as in 
carinata, is not quite straight; it bears at its base a short supplementary style on each 
side, which moves on the basal joimt with its own motions. Each is about one-fourth 
as long as the toe. The mastax is of immense size, occupying much more than half the 
body-length ; the trophi are often pushed to the very front. Vibrating cilia are disposed 
on minute eminences, of which the central one is continually lengthened and shortened. 
An ample brain runs down the occipital region, bearing a conspicuous crimson eye on its 
extreme point. I saw no protruded antenna. Very characteristic (in all the specimens 
observed) was a long clear blank space, wide at the foot-point, and tapering to near the 
mid-venter: probably a contractile vesicle; only that I could never see it contract. The 
whole animal is transparent and colourless. 
I first saw this species in the summer of 1885, on an aquatic moss, growing in one 
of my window tanks. I subsequently saw other specimens ; one in particular, glued fast 
to a filament by the toe, illustrating the abundance and tenacity of this excretion, which, 
evidently, is not always under the control of the animal, so that, if usually it is a con- 
venience, it may become a snare. This individual was not quite dead, yet the turbid 
matter of the head was already forced out, together with many oil-globules.—P.H.G.]. 
Length. With the toe, y}, inch. Habitat. On water-moss in pools (P.H.G.). 
M. mMAcEeRA, Gosse, sp. nov. 
(Pl. XX. fig. 12.) 
[SP. CH. Body fusiform, thickest behind the middle; lorica smooth-edged in 
front ; without visible ridge ; toe half the length of the lorica ; sub-styles one-fourtir 
§ J J 
the length of the toe. 
