AQUATIC WORMS 



Each case is practically ^th of an inch in length, and to the 

 naked eye resembles a tiny brown rod. There are several 

 species of the Melicertaceae that do not build cases of pellets, 

 but are yet most original in that they love a social life. 



The Conochilus volvox are not satisfied to live independent 

 lives, but fasten themselves to a centre mass of jelly, so as to 

 form a ball. The number of colonists continually increases, 

 for the young are no sooner hatched than they fasten them- 



7. 



WORMS (ROTIFERS) 



1. Hydatina senta. 2. Synchoeta mordax. 3. Asplanachna. 4. Rotifer 

 vulgaris. 5. Melicerta ringens. 6. Stephanoceros. 7. Floscularia cornnta. 



selves amongst the adults, often with the result that the jelly 

 gives way, and is broken into many separate colonies, each of 

 which increases in a similar way. 



Perhaps the most original matter is their manner of pro- 

 gression, for the living ball rolls through the water in a similar 

 manner to volvox. There are several species of colonists 

 similar in appearance to the latter. Lacinularia is often found 

 fastened to stems of aquatic weeds, but occasionally is met 

 with behaving in a similar manner to Conochilus that is to 



