58 THOUGHTS ON ANIMALCULES. 



XL 



THE FLOSCULARIA, OR FLOWER-SHAPED ANIMALCULES. 

 Plates IV, V, VI, VII, VIII. 



THE Rotifera we shall first examine have one simple, 

 continuous, rotatory organ, the margin of which is more 

 or less deeply lobed, or undulated. The body is in- 

 closed in a cylindrical case, or sheath, which is fixed at 

 the bottom, and open at the upper extremity, from 

 which the rotator and upper part of the body can be 

 protruded. This family is named Floscularia, from 

 the flower-like appearance of the body when expanded ; 

 it comprises six genera, in which are some of the most 

 interesting animalcules of the whole class. 



I. The LIMNIAS, or Water-Nymph, (L. ceratophylli, pi. 

 rv). Here is a group of eight individuals, accidentally 

 clustered together, of the Hornwort Limnias*, an animal- 

 cule with an isolated tubular sheath, into which it can 



* So named, because often found on the plant called Hornwort, or 

 Ceratophyllum. 



