172 A NEW ROTIFER. 



cilia. Between these is sunk a deep gutter extending all 

 round the disc. The action of the cilia drives a strong 

 current of water through this channel. Protozoa and' float- 

 ing vegetable spores are thus carried on to the buccal 

 funnel. This, densely lined with cilia, hurries the food down 

 to the mouth, or chamber where the mastax or jaws are 

 situated. On either side there appears to be s channel for 

 carrying off the surplus water. The neck is bent, so that 

 the trochal disc lies parallel to the long axis of the body, but 

 can easily be placed in any direction. The creature is very 

 sensitive, and quickly shrinks \vithin the gelatinous cover 

 when alarmed ; when this occurs the trochal disc, though, 

 three times the diameter of the body, is folded together 

 and disappears, part of the neck is also iuAaginated, a 

 series of parallel curves pointing to the place of disappear- 

 ance. 



A remarkable feature, which distinguishes it from 31. 

 ringens, is the possession of a pair of brilliant red eyes. 

 These are connected together by a broad band of red pig- 

 ment. A living colony seen under the microscope, the 

 trochal discs extending like a bouquet of flowers around the 

 periphery, and each adorned with a pair of brilliant ruby 

 eyes, forms a most interesting sight. 



The antennae, so conspicuous in M. ringens, are absent ; 

 a small pimple near the ovary may represent them, but no^ 

 tactile hairs are traceable on it. 



Immediately below the jaws is a laige oval mass, 

 bearing two small lobes on its upper surface. The 

 oesophageal tube is narrow, lined with cilia, and runs 

 obliquely for some distance before reaching the stomach. 

 On either side of this organ are two pear-shaped gastric 

 glands. The stomach is long, opening into a broad intestine 

 and the anus distinctly projects from the body. The 

 foecal pellets are oval and projected with some force from 

 the bod}-, so as to be thrown beyond the attraction of the 

 currents caused by the cilia on the trochal disc. The 

 space behind the alimentary canal is occupied by the yolk 

 gland, which largely fills the tube. 



From this part the body gradually tapers to form a 

 long slender tubular foot. It varies in length in different 



