CHAPTER V. 



Onlcr I. EHIZOTA. 



Fixe, J when adult, usually inhabiting a gelatinous tube excreted from the skin; 

 fool transversely wrinkled, not retractile within the body, ending in an adhesive disk or 



Clip. 



Family I. FLOSCULARIAD.E. 



Corona produced longitudinally into setigerous lobes ; buccal orifice central; ciliary 

 wreath a single half circle above the buccal orifice; trophi uncinate. 



This family, like the one that follows it, contains some of the largest, handsomest, 

 and most attractive of the Eotifera. It consists of only two genera, Floscularia, and 

 Stephanoceros, which closely resemble each other in their habits and internal structure, 

 but differ considerably in outward form. The latter genus, which is represented by 

 only a single species, has its frontal lobes produced into long arms, having setie set 

 round them in whorls; while the former, which contains no fewer than sixteen species, 

 has the lobes comparatively short and expanded, with the sete radiating from their 

 summits, and frequently edging the whole rim of the corona. The two genera differ 

 also in the kind of tubes that they secrete. The majority of the Floscules have some 

 what irregular tubes of slight consistency ; but Stephanoceros has a thicker tube, more 

 regular in shape, and apparently of greater density. 



Both genera are to be found adhering to the common water-plants, frequently in the 

 axils of the leaves ; though some species prefer more exposed positions on the stems, or 

 on the leaves themselves. The Flosculariadce bear captivity fairly well, and may be 

 easily bred, provided that they have a good-sized trough and a plentiful supply of food ; 

 for they are greedy feeders. They live mainly on Monads, ciliated Protozoa, &c. ; but 

 occasionally capture and swallow comparatively large animals, such as Stentors, or even 

 free swimming llotifcra. In one respect, however, captivity often tells on them ; for 

 the home-bred specimens, though healthy enough, and breeding freely, are frequently 

 much inferior in size to those that are brought fresh from their native haunts. 



Genus FLOSCULARIA, Okcn. 



Generic Characters. — Frontal lobes short, expanded, or wholly wanting ; setae 

 very long and radiating, or short and cilia-like; foot terminated by a non-retractile 

 peduncle, ending in an adhesive disk. 



Neither pen nor pencil can do justice to the beauty of these animated flowers. It 

 can only be properly appreciated when they are seen by dark-field illumination under 

 the microscope. Then the eye is at once delighted with the filmy transparency of the 

 petaloid head, with the flowing curves of the lobes, and with the pencils of delicate setse 

 radiating from their summits in all directions, and often passing altogether out of the 

 field of view. Should, moreover, the species under observation happen to be a social 

 one, such as F. canipanulata, four or five specimens may often be found with their 



