RATTULID.E. 61 



form. I did not discern any eye, but do not doubt its presence in life. None of the 

 viscera showed any peculiarity. 



This species I met with at the beginning of October 1885, among sediment furnished 

 me by Mr. Bolton. It was just dead ; but afforded me a good observation. A week or 

 two later, the empty lorica of anotlier example occurred from the same ditch ; and, a little 

 afterwards, in water from Bracebridge Pool, still from Mr. Bolton, I found it yet again. 

 And since, from Mr. Hood. The characters were constant in all. — IMI.Cr.] 



Length, -g'^ to g-V inch; lorica, -j-jj inch; depth at middle of ridge, i^j inch. 

 Habitat. Birmingham ; Dundee. Pools : rare (P.H.G.). 



M. scipio, Gosse, sp. nov. 

 (PL XX. fig. 11.) 



[SP. CH. Pody sub-ci/lindrical, slhjhthj larger in front, thick and round behind ; 

 tlie front of the lOTicz, set with tlirce spines ; a lomj low riige considerahlij on the right 

 side; toe half the length of the lorica; sub-styles onc-fourtii the length of tlie toe. 

 Greatest width about one-eighth of total length. 



This and the following two species have nuich in common ; yet are distinguished by 

 details of form and structure. The general outline differs in each, as shown in the 

 figures. The particulars detailed in the technical Spec. char, of each, though minute, 

 seem trustworthy. What appears distinctive of the present is that the front edge of the 

 lorica, otherwise smoothly truncate, carries three projecting spines, one occipital and 

 two lateral, each of which runs down the outside of the lorica for a short distance as a 

 sharp ridge. There is thus a certain resemblance to M. bicornis. 



The general outline is that of a stout straight stick, thickened slightly near the head, 

 with both ends rounded abruptly. At the extremity a very low ridge is seen, which 

 runs up, considerably to the right of the medial dorsal line, almost imperceptibly at 

 length, to the very front. The foot, which is short and bulbous, is contained within the 

 rounded end of the trunk, but carries, attached to it by a very facile johit, a toe in 

 the form of a slender spine, about two-fifths as long as the lorica. The spine, as in 

 carinata, is not quite straight ; it bears at its base a short supplementary style on each 

 side, which moves on the basal joint with its own motions. Each is about one-fourth 

 as long as the toe. The mastax is of immense size, occupying much more than half the 

 body-length ; the tropin are often pushed to the very front. Vibrating cilia arc disposed 

 on minute eminences, of which the central one is continually lengthened and shortened. 

 An ample brain runs down the occipital region, bearing a conspicuous crimson eye on its 

 extreme point. I saw no protruded antenna. Very characteristic (in all the specimens 

 observed) was a long clear blank space, wide at the foot-point, and tapering to near the 

 mid-venter: probably a contractile vesicle; only that I could never see it contract. The 

 whole animal is transparent and colourless. 



I first saw this species in the summer of 1885, on an aquatic moss, growing in one 

 of my window tanks. I subsequently saw other specimens ; one in particular, glued fast 

 to a filament by the toe, illustrating the abundance and tenacity of this excretion, which, 

 evidently, is not always under the control of the animal, so that, if usually it is a con- 

 venience, it may become a snare. This individual was not quite dead, yet the turbid 

 matter of the head was already forced out, together with many oil-globules. — P.H.G.]. 



Length. With the toe, y,',;, inch. Habitat. On water-moss in pools (P.II.G.). 



M. MACEii.\, Gosse, sp. nov. 

 (PL XX. fig. V2.) 



[SP. CH. Body fusiform, thickest beliind tJic middle ; lorica smooth-edged in 

 front; tvithout visible lidge ; toe luilf the length of the lorica; sub-styles onc-fourtit, 

 the length of the toe. 



