44 THE ROTIFERA. 



mosses originally came from one of the Scottish lochs, and the ancestors of these Eotifera 

 may have been then introduced. But I constantly rinse out my live-boxes, after an 

 examination, in one or other of my reservoirs ; and as I have received samples of water, 

 animals and plants, from many kind friends in various parts, it is impossible to trace the 

 original habitat of any species which either of them may now contain. 



In form the present species much resembles cceca or gracilis ; it is, however, larger 

 than either, nearly, if not quite, equalling forficula in dimensions. The gibbosity of 

 the back, its abrupt descent to the cloaca, and the peculiar mode of carrying the toes 

 behind, more easily seen than described, are all characteristically Furcularian. 



A remarkable peculiarity, that strikes the eye at the first glance in the vertical 

 aspect, is that the toes seem to be articulated direct to the trunk, without the interven- 

 tion of the usual foot-joints. This is not an accidental malformation, but is evidently 

 proper to the species, all the specimens being alike. The toes, too, are wide apart at 

 their bases, the interval being sometimes straight, sometimes running up into an angle 

 (fig. 3). They are in general carried nearly parallel ; but they are often stretched so 

 wide apart as to be horizontal, or, on the other hand, crossed. I could detect no eye, 

 nor any brain, nor even turbidity, though I sought diligently. All the examples were 

 brilliantly transparent, but most were tinged with a very delicate shade of canary- 

 yellow, the stomach and intestine usually gorged with food of a warmer hue. The front 

 and face are of a pale orange-tint. 



The manners of this species are exactly those of its fellows. In the live-box half-a- 

 dozen congregated under a single leaf of the moss, neglecting other leaves, though there 

 were plenty more, apparently as eligible ; and there they kept restlessly moving to and 

 fro, twining and twisting on themselves, suo more, beneath the translucent green leaf. 

 The freedom and facility with which they turn round within their own length and 

 breadth is remarkable. It is effected with marvellous rapidity, and with no change of 

 place, but only of position. You are looking with a high power at the head or mastax 

 a twinkle, a dimness and in an instant you see the toes in the very spot ! The creature 

 has turned itself quite round, and is off on its steps. P.H.G.] 



Length, T | inch; of which the toes make about one-fourth. Habitat. The leaves 

 of aquatic moss in a tank (P.H.G.). 



F. MARINA, Dujardin. 



(PI. XIX. fig. 15.) 

 Furcularia marina . . . Dujardin, Hist. Nat. Zooph. 1841, p. 649, pi. 22, fig. 4. 



[SP. CH. Body long, cylindrical; toes blade-shaped, simple, decurved, pointed, 

 minute ; eye wanting. Marine. 



The great length and uniform thickness of this species, truncate at each end, obliquely 

 in front, transversely behind, distinguish it readily from its fellows. There is a lobu- 

 late, pointed glandular brain in the occipital region, on which no eye-speck can be 

 detected by either transmitted or reflected light. Behind this are some minute, seem- 

 ingly isolated bodies, which may be connected with the branchial system. The points of 

 the jaws are frequently pushed out from the oblique front to a considerable distance 

 (fig. 15a), and retracted rapidly and repeatedly, with a snapping action. A minute 

 protrusile antenna ('?), ciliated at the tip, is seen behind the buccal funnel (fig. 15a). 



It was in August 1854 that I became acquainted with this interesting species, already 

 made known by M. Dujardin in 1841. I had been keeping a small marine aquarium 

 ever since February ; but during a two months' absence from home in the summer, 

 most of the creatures had died, and were decomposed on my return. The water, how- 

 ever, remained fairly pure ; and I therefore merely removed a good deal of the decayed 

 matter from the bottom, and restocked it, mainly with Actinia. On the sides of the 

 tank, and in the sea-water, I found this pretty Furcularia by thousands, associated with 



