Mr. P. H. Gosse on Asplanchna priodonta. 23 



specimens of a long slender Fragillaria loose in the cavity of the 

 body ; and in the stomach of another the long cell of a Conferva. 

 On several I observed a small parasitic Colaciiim. 



As it is manifest that the characters of the genus Notommata 

 of Prof. Ehreuberg will not apply to these annuals, I propose 

 to form them into a new genus, under the name Asplanchna 

 {a priv., oifkd'^'yyov, viscics), alluding to the remarkable absence 

 of the intestinal canal. It may be thus characterized : — 



Gen. Asplanchna. 



Animal rotatorium, ex Hydatinceornm familia, pede, intestine, et ano 

 carens ; ocellis, mandibulisque instructum ; sexibus sejunctis. 



The three species as yet detected may be thus defined : — 



1. Asplanchna Brightwellii. 



A. ? mandibulis unidentatis ; ocello unico ; stomacho ovali, longi- 

 tudinali ; vesica lobata, majore ; corpusculis tremulis file extenso 

 affixis ; ovario bicornuto. Long. cir. J^unc. — ^ mandibulis, pha- 

 rynge, et stomacho carens ; corpore truncate. Long. cir. Jg- \mc. 



Hah. Norwich, Leamington. 



I have honoured this species with the name of Mr. Brightwell, 

 its first discoverer and describer. 



3. Asplanchna priodonta. 



A. ? mandibulis serratis ; ocellis tribus ; stomacho hemisphaerico, 

 transverse ; vesica sphserica, minere ; corpusculis tremulis filo con- 

 tortuplicate affixis ; ovario subgloboso. Long. cir. -^-g unc. — 

 ^ cerpere acuto. Long. -jJ-q ^^c. 



Hab. Serpentine River, Kensington Gardens. 



The name alludes to the notched edge of the jaw ; irploy, serro, 

 6Sov<i, dens. 



3. Asplanchna Bowesii. 



A. $ mandibulis edentulis ; stomacho ovali, longitudinali ; vesica lo- 

 bata, majore ; [corpusculis tremulis non ebservatis ;] ovario bicor- 

 nuto. Long, cir. -^ unc. — [J" non vidi.] 



Hab. Walthamstow. 



This species I have named in honour of the esteemed relative 

 to whom I owe my acquaintance with it. 



EXPLANATION OF PLATES I. and IL 

 Plate I. 



a. Female : lateral aspect ; right side. The head is expanded ; the crop is 

 distended in the act of engvilfing prey, two Chilomonads. A 

 similar animalcule is seen on the point of enteiing the sacculated 

 stomach. The contractile bladder is seen near the vagina, con- 

 tracted. The ovisac is empty and wrinkled ; lying m froat of the 



