92 Marvels of Pond-Life. 



backj which occasioned a rapid diange in the creature's 

 position. The gizzard appeared to consist of two 

 rounded masses, having several ridges of teeth, which 

 worked against each other something like the promi- 

 nences of a coflPee-mill. From the three spines, this 

 animal was a Triarthra, or Three-limbed Rotifer, but 

 the position of the spines, and the toes, made it differ 

 from any species described in the ' Micrographic 

 Dictionary,' or in Pritchard. 



Whether or not this species is to be regarded as 

 having a lorica or not, must depend upon the precise 

 meaning attached to that word. At any rate the 

 integument was much firmer than in many of the 

 rotifers, and gave an efficient support to the spines 

 which a mere skin could not do. As Mr. Gosse 

 remarks of an allied genus, the Polyarthra, or Many- 

 limbed Rotifer, this creature could not be investigated 

 without coming to the conclusion ^' Here again we have 

 true jointed limbs/' a fact of great importance in 

 determining the zoological rank of the family, and in 

 supporting Mr. Gosse's view some at least bore a strong 

 affinity with the group of Arthropoda, of which the 

 insects are the principal representatives. 



Another rotifer of even greater interest, which was 

 busy among the Cryptomonads, was the Brachion, or 

 ''^ Pitcher Rotifer '^ (Brachionus). The members of 

 this genus will frequently reward the searcher into 

 pond-life. Their main characteristic is a cup or pitcher- 

 shaped lorica, which is cut or notched at the top into 

 several horns or projections, the number of which 

 indicates the species ; while two or more similar 



