42 PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 



Mr. Chantrell explained that in tliis warm-water pond the tubes dis- 

 appear in the mature animals, the rotifer only being very slightly 

 ensconced in the fork of the leaves of the Anacharis, a gelatinous 

 matter filling up nearly the space between the stem and the leaf, and 

 that it seemed more for a receptacle for the eggs than a covering for 

 the animal, and it is only in the very young animals that the tubes are 

 at all perfect. 



The Floscularife found in this pond are nearly all destitute of 

 tubes and are of large size ; the temperature of the water either dis- 

 solves the glutinous matter of the tubes, or the animal, finding the 

 temperature agi-eeable, will not trouble himself to build a tube. 



Mr. Davis expressed himseK quite satisfied that the specimens 

 sent to him by Mr. Chantrell were (Ecistes crystallinus (Ehrenberg) : the 

 fact that the tube is ii-regular and tmdeveloped is curious, but scarcely 

 a specific characteristic, while the animal itself seems identical with 

 (Ecistes crystallinus pure and simple. Does not the warmth of the 

 water influence the secretion and deposition of the tube materials? 

 He thought Mr. Chantrell would not be able to reconcile his opinion 

 with the account of (Ecistes crystallinus in Pritchard (after Ehi'en- 

 berg), still less with the figure in the same book. Look at Ehrenberg's 

 description and figures of better-known rotifers, as Melicerta, Stepha- 

 noceros, &c. ; note the inaccuracies and be not surprised at a few more 

 discrepancies. Mr. Davis states that a few years ago Mr. Gosse was 

 so kind as to help him to identify this species, otherwise he would 

 have never guessed what the rotifers were, which at that time he 

 took in great abimdance. In the matter of the tubes or cases, Mr. 

 Gosse's takings and his did not agree ; Mr. Gosse's had nearly opaque 

 tubes, but his were clear and colourless, whilst Mr. Chantrell's seem a 

 mixture, as if the creature tried both systems and then gave up tube 

 building in disgust. 



Mr. Chantrell pointed out a marked characteristic in the mature 

 specimens of the (Ecistes crystallinus, which is the second row of 

 cilia carrying the food in right and left currents to the gullet or 

 mouth ; this does not show in the young specimens, which are always 

 in tubes, but as they get larger the tube gradually disappears. 



Mr. Davis stated the fact that in all this division of rotifers the 

 mouth is outside and beneath the disc ; that they have all more or 

 less developed the second row of cilia : it was fii'st noticed by Pro- 

 fessor Huxley in Lacinularia, the first row at the edge of the disc 

 seeming to have no directive power, merely stii'ring up the food in 

 the water, whilst the second row (outside and under disc) appears to 

 conduct the floating matter to the gullet. 



Mr. Chantrell said he was not satisfied of this and was making 

 further investigations, and hoped at a future meeting of the Society to 

 give the result ; he had however detected the cilia on what Mr. Davis 

 in his paper on (Ecistes intermedia, terms the ciliated projection or 

 chin through which the ejected food was discharged. 



The Eev, W. H. Dallinger exhibited Woodward's tank microscope. 



Mr. A. Higginson, M.E.S.S., exhibited some sections of tape-worm, 

 showing the ovaria and ova in situ. 



