118 THE EOTIFERA. 



lumbar spines but none on the foot-paps (fig. 3d), and others with spines on the foot- 

 paps but none on the lumbar regions (fig. 8e) ; and, in all, the size and structure were 

 the same. From this I conclude that Ehreiiberg's B. amphiceros is only a variety of 

 B. pala. [As is also, I have little doubt, my B. don (" Ann. and Mag. N. H." Sept. 

 1851. P.H.G.] The lateral, or lumbar-spines are very variable, and occasionally reach 

 an extravagant length, as shown in PI. XXVIII. fig. 3, where they are nearly as long as 

 the body of the lorica. In this specimen the spines were hollow nearly to their ends, and 

 were, in fact, true prolongations of the body-cavity. They were, too, as flexible as the 

 lorica, so that they could be brought all four together at the tips, or even crossed. 

 Length. Lorica, T ' 5 inch. Habitat. Ponds and ditches : common. 



B. DOECAS, Gosse. 

 (PI. XXVIII. fig. 4.) 



Brachionus dorcas . . . Gosse, Ann. Nat. Hist. 2 Ser. vol. viii. 1851, p. 203. 

 ... Phil. Trans. 1857, pi. xv. figs. 15-19. 



[SP. CH. As B. pala; but the occipital spines longer and more slender ; and the 

 antlers curved forward ; pectoral edge undulate, with a central notch. 



This, too, may possibly prove only a variety of pala ; but the appearance of the 

 antlers struck me as unique ; particularly the elegant sinuous curvature, like that of the 

 horns of the Gazelle Antelopes, which suggested the specific name. I had ample 

 opportunities of studying it in both sexes, and in all ages, from Forest-school Pond at 

 "Walthamstow, in 1850 ; but I have not met with it since. The figures, in which I have 

 delineated its anatomy in detail, will render much description needless. I could find no 

 contractile vesicle in any specimen, but distinctly traced the lateral canals of each side 

 to a common termination at the cloaca. An excellent sight of one of the vibratile tags, 

 endwise, showed these organs to be attached by a very minute papilla, and to be flattened 

 on two opposite sides (as at fig. 4.d). The parent carries her eggs after exclusion. 

 P.H.G.] 



Length. Of lorica, -J a inch; width, ^ inch. Habitat. Walthamstow (P.H.G.) : 

 rare. 



B. URCEOLARIS, Ehrcnberg. 



(PI. XXVII. fig. 6.) 

 Brachionus urceolaris . , . Ehrenberg, Die In/us. 1838, p. 512, Taf. Ixiii. fig. 3. 



[SP. CH. Lorica with six straight occipital spines and a deep sinus in the middle ; 

 the pectoral edge rising slightly to the middle, whichis slightly excavate : orifice for the 

 foot bounded by tivo papillce.. 



We have now species whose front is armed with six spines, usually low, but variable 

 in height. In the present each spine is the origin of a shelly ridge, which runs for some 

 distance down the lorica. Viewed dorsally, its outline is that of an elegant rounded 

 cup ; but, laterally, the occipital spines, and the gibbous dorsum descending below the 

 flatter venter, destroy the resemblance. A round, or sub-square, orifice gives emission to 

 the very agile wrinkled foot, as rapidly retracted. The lorica is somewhat scabrous. 

 The internal organization is that common to the genus. The lateral canals begin at the 

 highest point of the head-funnel, at the bases of the lateral spines. They pass down 

 into close contact with the gastric glands, each of which is of great size and of retort- 

 shape, 1 and each canal has at that contact a dilatation into an oblique plexus. Before 

 it reaches its end, it is tied to the lorica, and makes an abrupt angle, to join the con- 

 tractile vesicle at the very neck of its discharge. 



Females carry, attached to the base of the foot, many small eggs which produce 

 males, or few large eggs which produce females. (Phil. Trans. 1856, pi. xv. figs. 3-5 ; 



1 In one specimen the gastric glands evidently merged into the substance of the lateral canals. 



