Royal Microscopical Society. 211 



mucous surrounding the Haematococcus, and that its intestine 

 contained same greenish granulose matter, from which I presumed 

 that it fed on the plasma of the Alga?. 



It is four or five years ago since I found this, and made the 

 sketch of it, and I was then in hopes of finding more specimens, 

 but have been disappointed, and I am now sorry I did not keep the 

 specimen, as I might have dried off the creature on a slip of glass, 

 and so preserved the spines in situ. 



The following letter was addressed by the author to Mr. Stewart 

 in answer to one suggesting the possibihty of some mistake as to the 

 mouth of the animal : — 



March 22, 1873. 



Dear Mr. Stewart, — I thank you for your suggestion, as regards 

 the mouth of the animal. I had thought so myself, that the mouth 

 ought to be inferior, or beneath ; but on studying the movements of 

 the creature, I could not persuade myself that it was so. At the 

 same time I would not insist upon it that it is not inferior ; for a 

 creature tbat is more or less cylindrical, or, perhaps, clavate, would be 

 more in accordance with its form. One could scarcely insist upon 

 the one or the other. At the same time I have stated what I believe 

 to be the fact. 



As regards the spines, there are two lateral rows of six fascicles ; 

 although I could not show them all, as it would make confusion with 

 so many ; but I have stated this, and shown three fascicles, to show 

 their arrangement and position. 



You are at full liberty to read the paper at the next meeting of 

 your Society ; it might probably elicit some remarks worth recording. 



I am, my dear Sir, yours truly, 



Edward Parpitt. 

 C. Stewart, Esq. 



