74 THE MICROSCOPICAL NEWS. 
must often have found it impossible satisfactorily to identify some 
of his finds. One has little difficulty with the large fixed forms, 
but the tyro’s troubles begin when he comes to study the more 
minute free-swimming Rotifers. The ‘‘ Micrographic Dictionary” 
is of little service, as it gives descriptions of species in comparatively 
few instances. ‘‘ Pritchard,” while treating more fully of the 
various species, is yet very vague in regard to the less frequently 
recurring forms. It has often been a source of regret to me that 
the Microscopical News has not been made the medium of more 
information on these charming animals. I trust, however, that 
these ‘‘ Notes” may be the means of eliciting information upon a 
subject interesting to a large section of your readers. The follow- 
ing notes are taken at random from my ‘Sketch and Note Book,” 
and I shall be glad if they are followed by others from experienced 
microscopists. 
Fig. 18, a, side view, 4, dorsal view. This Rotifer agrees most, 
I think, with the genus Colurus. Its lorica is cylindrical, com- 
pressed, open on the ventral side, and with faint indications of a 
ridge on the anterior dorsal. This part is also pointed; posterior 
portion of lorica with two horns. Rotatory organ with two upper 
hooks, and two lower sete. Tail-foot, forked ; toes, about as long 
as foot. From a well which contains many diatoms, several other 
forms of loricated, free-swimming Rotifera and Tardigrada, and 
which has Mosses and Batrachosperma growing upon its sides. If 
this is new, which I hardly expect, I propose to give it a name 
expressive of its general resemblance to a ship.—Colurus navalis. 
Fig. 19. This is a side-view of a Rotifer I am not able to 
identify with any known species. It has most, and very strong 
points of resemblance with Salpina. For example its eye is single 
and cervical; foot furcate; lorica prismatic, with elevated ridge; 
and anteriorly it has either 3 or 4 horny processes. It differs only, 
at least so far as I have been able to make out, in the posterior part 
not being toothed, and in the toes being decurved ; the gizzard too 
is perhaps rather Hydatinean in its character. It swims about in much 
the same way, and has a general resemblance to Rattulus lunaris, 
fam. Hydatinza; but its close affinity to Salpina is undoubted. 
Fig. 20, a, ventral view, 4, side view. This Rotifer, which 
evidently belongs to the genus Hydatinza, is a very peculiar but very 
interesting one. Characters as follows :—Animal stout, truncated 
anteriorly, enlarging from front towards base of foot, where it is 
suddenly attenuated ; foot, cylindrical, plicate, about one third the 
length of the animal ; toes short and stout; one red eye seated on 
a dark mass; near the mouth is a beak-like projection (shown in 
side view) ; jaws protrussile ; fine cilia on ventral surface of head ; 
integument thrown into deep plications ; strongly ciliated inter- 
nally ; sarcode-like process situated dorsally, just above, and nearly 
