ABSENCE OF "WHEELS." 77 



structure of the creature and the nature of its 

 gizzard, distinctly marked it out as a member of 

 the family we call "Rotifers," but the absence of 

 anything like 'Svheels" proves that those organs are 

 not essential characteristics of this class. 



Noticeable currents are not always produced 

 when the mouth of this Floscule is fully exi)anded. 

 Oji one occasion, one having five lobes Was discovered 

 standing at such an angle in a glass trough that 

 the aperture could be looked down into. The 

 position rendered it impossible to use a higher power 

 than about two hundred linear, but with this, and 

 the employment of carmine, notliing like a vortex 

 was seen during a whole evening, although a less 

 power was sufficient to shew the ciliary Avhirlpools 

 made by small specimens of Epistylis and Vaginico/a^ 

 which were in the same vessel. The density of 

 the integument was unfavourable to viewing the 

 action of the gizzard, but it could be indistinctly 

 perceived. The contractions and subsequent expan- 

 sions of the cup, formed by the upper part of 

 the creature, may be one way in Avhich its food 

 is drawn in, but there is no doubt it can produce 

 currents when it thinks proper. Sometimes ani- 

 malcules in the vicinity of Floscules wliirl about 

 as if under the infiuence of such currents. Some 

 may be seen to enter the space between the lobes, 

 swim about inside, and then get out again, while 



