ROTIFERS. 457 



integument an oval mark on each side, within which a 

 tremulous motion is perceived ; but at the pleasure of the 

 animal a semi-globular lobe is suddenly projected from 

 each of these spots by evolution of the integument. 

 These projections have suggested the trivial name of 

 aurita. Each lobe is crowned with a wheel of cilia, the 

 rapid rotation of whose waves forms the principal source 

 of swift progression in swimming. The protrusions of 

 these lobes are evidently eversions of the skin, ordinarily 

 concealed in two lateral cavities. They may be protruded 

 by pressure, and are then seen to be covered with long 

 but firm and close-set cilia, which are bent backward, and 

 move more languidly, as death approaches. The whole- 

 front is also fringed with short vibratile cilia, which extend 

 all along the face, as far as the constriction of the neck. 

 The whole body is clear and nearly colourless ; but its- 

 transparency is much hindered by the net-work of dim 

 lines and corrugations that are everywhere seen, particu- 

 larly all about the head." 



Mr. Gosse, throwing a little carmine into the water, saw the 

 jaws working slightly, the points opening a little way, and 

 then closing; the rods of the hammers were drawn tcwards- 

 the bottom for opening, and upwards for closing. A little 

 mass of pigment was soon accumulated beneath the tips 

 of the jaws, which spread itself over a rounded surface, 

 but did not pass farther; nor did an atom at this time go- 

 into the stomach. 



After entering into further minute details of the little 

 animal, he observes: "They possess organs that many 

 others do not, and want some that others possess. They 

 prove that the minuteness of the animals of this clasa 

 does not prevent them from having an organisation most 

 elaborate and complex, and therefore it justifies the belief 

 that the Rotiferce should occupy a place in the scale of 

 animal life much higher than that which has been commonly 

 assigned to them." 



Like most of the class, this Notommata is predatory. 

 Mr. Gosse once saw one eagerly nibbling at the contracted 

 body of a sluggish Rotifer vulgaris; the mouth was drawn 

 obliquely forward, and the jaws were protruded to the food, 

 so as to touch it. It did not appear, however, to do the 



