POND LIFE : ANUR-EA LONGISPINA. 63 



POND LIFE : WHERE TO FIND ANUR/EA LONGISPINA. 



BY J. LEVICK. 



Head bi'i'ure the SocU't;/ Junr loth, 18S0._ 



Enquiries fox- good localities for fi'esli- water microscopic life are so 

 ofteu made that it is vex-y gratifying to be able to indicate a source from 

 which an abundant supply of new and beautiful forms is now to be 

 obtained, especially as it has none of the ordinary drawbacks common to 

 pond hunting, which prove so insuperable to all but the moat 

 enthusiastic. The habitat referred to is not in private grounds, 

 guarded by high and strong fences, where ominous sign-boards disclose 

 the presence of man-traps, spring guns, cV'c, with other pains and penalties, 

 thoughtfully provided for trespassers ; nor is it an out-of-the-way nook, 

 which needs a journey by rail, or a long walk, and a scramble through 

 bog and briar to be reached. On the contrary, it is in the most convenient 

 of all localities, a spot which may be reached at any time, without fear 

 of injury to the daintiest of prettily-worked slippers — at home I — in the 

 very water brought to us in pipes, and which we are using and drinking 

 every day. This important commodity, supplied by the Corporation of 

 Birmingham, is now a splendid source of, not only old and familiar forms 

 of life, but even rarities, and all that needs to be done to obtain these is 

 to turn on the tap and pass a little water through a very tine strainer or 

 filter, taking care of the residuum, which may in this way be collected. 



Under the microscope, this residuum will be found to yield a host of 

 treasures. First to be noticed is that lovely long-spiued rotifer, discovered 

 only last year, Aminm longhpina, (see "Midland Naturalist," Vol. II., p. 

 241,) some dead, but many living, sailing to and fro, as it is wont to do, 

 having for its companions A. fitijjitata and Tr'uirthra longisetu, the latter 

 looking like a little fat fellow on three long delicate stilts. There are also 

 occasional specimens of .S'((/j>/«« i\dunc(t, Dinocharh pocillum, and a long 

 list of other species, together with a few Turd'ujrada. A remarkable fact 

 is that the Anunea hmghpina are much more hardy than they were last 

 year, whether they have become more acclimatised, or whether the water 

 suits them better, is not apparent, but they certainly live longer after 

 being gathered than hitherto, and do not seem at all discomforted by 

 being bottled for a time. 



Of other interesting forms, the latest addition to fresh-water life is 

 Ccratium lomiicorne, very plentiful, but few living, though its congener, 

 Peridiniuin tahulatuvi, seems none the worse for its temporary sojourn in 

 the pipes. Large quantities of that curious compound flagellate 

 organism, Di)wbn/o» »-(')-?h/<7//((, comparable to animated ears of barley, 

 are also to be noted. The VorticeUidiE and Eutomostraca are also 

 represented, the former by both branched or tree-hke, and simple forms, 

 and the latter principally by that Uvely little crustacean, with his two 

 long and curved antennae, Bosmina longirostris, evidently much the woi*se 



