124 THE ROTIFEKA. 



the two posterior angles produced into a slender straight spine of varying length ; sur- 

 face minutely punctated, and hexagonally tesselated. 



The form of this very abundant species exactly resembles, whether viewed from the 

 back or side, that of a wicker hand-barrow familiar in some parts of the country. 

 When the empty lorica is seen, it is a beautiful microscopic object. The rotating head, 

 and whole internal organization agree with those common to the genus. It swims 

 rather swiftly, in a peculiar style, continually revolving, both on the long and the trans- 

 verse axis, throwing perpetual somersaults. Its irregular plunging and rolling strongly 

 remind me of the motion of a ship in a heavy sea. 



My A. brevispina (loc. cit.) (PL XXIX. fig. 5) is, 1 feel assured, only a var. of this 

 species, with the spines degenerate, and the puncturing nearly evanescent. Ehrenberg's 

 A. testudo and A. valga will, I think, fall into the same category. P.H.G.] 



Length (including spines), T {- y inch ; width, ^\^ inch. Habitat. Pools and lakes 

 (P.H.G.) : very common. 



A. COCHLEABIS, Gosse. 



(PI. XXIX. fig. 7.) 

 Anuraa cochlcaris .... Gosse, Ann. Nat. Hist. 2 Ser. vol. viii. 1851, p. 202. 



[SP. CH. Lorica spoon-shaped, ending behind in a straight slender spine ; the back 

 ridged and tessclate, as in A. tecta. 



This bears the same relation to A. stipitata, Ehr., as A. tecta bears to A. curvi- 

 cornis ; differing from stipitata by the roof-like back, and the mesial division of the 

 facets, which latter (as shown in Ehrenberg's figures) are decidedly of the hexagon 

 pattern. The outline, too, of stipitata is that of a broad, or even triangular shovel ; 

 whereas that of cochlcaris is decidedly spoon-shaped, broadly ovate. It is delicately 

 punctate or stippled. The protrusile front is very ample ; a great chin of two fleshy 

 lobes is seen sidewise, besides the lateral and frontal lobes. The eye is manifestly on a 

 lens, which sparkles in focusing, like a gem, but pale in hue. An egg of enormous pro- 

 portions is carried before the caudal spine, reaching nearly to the chin. The spine 

 varies much in length, from a mere tubercle to equal length with the lorica-body. 



The species is not uncommon in clear waters, often associated with Asplanclma, of 

 which it forms a common article of food. I have taken an Asp. priodonta with an 

 An. cochlcaris in its stomach, which, after an hour or tico, was ejected, and instantly 

 swam about, as lively, and apparently as uninjured as ever ! P.H.G.] 



Length (including spines), T \ to yj^ inch. Habitat. Clear ponds and lakes (P.H.G.) : 

 common. 



A. SERRULATA, Ehrcnbcrg. 



(PI. XXIX. fig. 8.) 

 Anurcca serrulata .... Ehreuberg, Die In/us. 1838, p. 508, Taf. Ixii. fig. 13. 



[SP. CH. Lorica oblong-square, much as the shorter-spined forms of A. aculeata; 

 dorsally tesselate with hexagons, except that the hind row of facets are two great poly- 

 gons mcsially divided; ridges serrate; both surfaces punctate. 



The most prominent character of this species is its extreme roughness, the edges of 

 all the facet-divisions, and the back of every spine being jagged with minute round 

 excavations, which stud every part of the surface. I have counted about seventy 

 punctures in one facet. This roughness varies in degree. The antlers are often greatly 

 developed in stoutness, length, and curvature : the hind spines are sometimes nearly 

 obliterate. The pectoral edge makes two ai-ches (each with an intra-marginal line) with 

 a notch between them. The viscera sometimes protrude in a globose form beyond the 

 end of the lorica : I think this is when the contractile vesicle is filling. The frontal 

 lobes take the form of three short cylinders, each with its fan, of vibratile setae ; each of 



