CLASSIFICATION 



221 



dilate the disc. Males (Fig. 107, 1) and larvae vermiform with a 

 ciliated pedal cup, and a simple wreath, with two eyes on the disc. 



Fam. 1. Flosculariidae: Floscularia Oken, Stephanoceros E. (Fig. 115). 

 Fam. -2. Apsilidae: Apsilus Mt-tschnikoff (Fig. 112, A), Acyclus Leidy, 

 Atrochus Wierzejski (Fig. 112, C). 



The family Flosculariidae contains some most exquisite forms ; 

 Stephanoceros, the " Crown Animalcule," being probably the most 

 lovely of the Class, and many of the Floscules coming not far 

 behind. The Apsilidae are mostly mud-dwellers. 



Order II. Melicertaceae. Females (except in Trocho- 

 gphaera) attached or tubicolous ; tube variable. Disc with a 

 dorsal gap (except Conochilus) often two-lobed or corolla-like ; a 

 ventral lip often separating off a ventral 

 ciliated cup continuous by a pair of gutters 

 with the ciliated groove ; trochus of 

 stronger cilia than the cingulum. Trophi 

 malleoramate in a distinct mastax. Intes- 

 tine much curved dorsally, cloaca long 

 eversible (except Trochospliaera*}. Mules 

 and larvae as in Order I. 



Fam. 3. Melicertidae: Melicerta E. (Fig. 116), 



Limnias Sclirank, Cephalosiphon 



E., Oecistes E., Lacinularia E., 



Meyalotrocha E., Conochilus E., 



Odotrocha Thorpe. 

 Fam. 4. Trochosphaeridae: Trochosphaera FIG. 116. Melicfrta ringens. 



Semper (Fig. 118, D). 



(After Joliet). A, Side 

 view ; B, dorsal view. 

 (tl, Lateral antennae ; ci, 

 cingulum seen by trans- 

 parency ; /, gizzard ; 7), 

 pellet in ciliated cup, 

 about to lie deposited on 

 edge of tube ; </, trochus. 



The Melicertidae embrace a large num- 

 ber of tubicolous forms, many of which are 

 social. This habit is especially notice- 

 able in Lacinularia socialis, which forms 

 a gelatinous incrustation easily seen by the naked eye ; and 

 in Conochilus volvox, which forms free-swimming globular aggre- 

 gates, the young attaching themselves when hatched to the 

 centre of the ball, and the ball splitting up into two as soon 

 as imdue pressure is exerted at the periphery by overcrowding. 

 In this genus the eyes are very conspicuous in the adult, as 

 they are in the similar free-swimming aggregates of Lacinularia 

 ruccmocata. 



Trockosphaera (Fig. 118, I)) is remarkable for its peculiar 



