776 ORDER HYPOTRICHA. 



ing from the anterior extremity to about the centre of the body ; cilia of 

 the external or left-hand peristome-border remarkably long ; no ventral or 

 anal styles; merely a peripheral border of fine marginal setae, and one or 

 more oblique rows of small ventral setae ; endoplast ovate, sometimes 

 double; contractile vesicle single, spherical, situated near the posterior 

 angle of the peristome ; often excreting and inhabiting a mucilaginous or 

 granular sheath or lorica ; the anterior half of the body, when protruded 

 from this sheath, usually twisted in a screw-like manner. Inhabiting salt 

 and fresh water. 



Stein has proposed to identify as members of this genus the forms referred by 

 Lachmann to the genus Chcetospira. As shoHTi, however, on a previous page, such 

 animalcules are undoubted Heterotrichous forms, closely allied to Follicularia. 



Stichotricha secunda, Perty. Pl. XLIV. Figs, i and 2. 



Body highly elastic, lanceolate-fusiform, broadest in the centre, and 

 tapering to each extremity, the anterior end being the more attenuate ; peri- 

 stomal or adoral cilia longest at the anterior extremity, gradually diminish- 

 ing in size as they approach the oral aperture, continued a short way 

 up the inner or reflected border of the peristome; ventral setje short, 

 forming a single oblique row ; marginal setae long and slender ; endoplasts 

 ovate, two in number, having minute attached endoplastules ; contractile 

 vesicle single, spherical, situated between the two endoplasts close 

 to the posterior angle of the peristome-field ; animalcules usually secreting 

 a mucilaginous sheath, which they often vacate to swim freely in the water ; 

 the anterior half of the body, when extended from this tube, twisted to the 

 right in a screw-like manner. Length 1-190" to 1-120". 



Hab. — Fresh water, among Spliagnum. 



Stichotricha comuta, C. & L. sp. Pl. XLIV. Fig. ii. 



Body somewhat flask- or bottle-shaped, its apex attenuate, bearing 

 a single, long, straight, acerate spine or seta ; cilia of the peristome 

 shortest anteriorly, increasing in length as they approach the oral aper- 

 ture ; marginal setae continued up the left side of the peristome as very 

 long hair-like seta; ; three parallel oblique rows of fine ventral setje developed 

 in addition to the peripheral border of larger marginal setae ; endoplasts 

 oval, two in number. Length 1-300". Hab. — Fresh water. 



This species is identical with the Stichochata corniita of Claparfede and Lach- 

 mann. While evidently referable to Perty's genus Stichotricha, as more recently 

 amended by Stein, it must certainly not be merged with Stichotricha secunda, as that 

 authority has proposed, and from which it is shown, by Stein's own description and 

 illustrations, to differ in all essential specific details. In attempting their amalgama- 

 tion, Stein has sought to demonstrate that a renewed examination of Stichotricha 

 secunda has revealed to him the existence of the apical spine, of three rows of ven- 

 tral setae, and of the long marginal elements on the left border of the attenuate 

 anterior extremity, characteristic of ClaparMe and Lachmann's type. Accrediting 

 Stein, however, with that faithfulness of description and delineation that usually 



