62 THE ROTIFERA. 



I can give little information about this species, wliicli yet seems distinct. I have 

 seen but a single example, and that was moribund, if not actually dead. I met with it 

 in .June 1885, in water from Woolston Pond, Hants, courteously supplied by Miss 

 Pavies. Spontaneous motion had not ceased, particularly in the toe-spines, and the 

 structure of the abdominal viscera was still perfect ; yet all the foreparts were one mass 

 of dissolving flesh and air-bubbles, protruding from the front and spreading around. An 

 eye-spot could be detected in the mass ; but of the trophi not a trace. 



The form recalls M. rattus ; but greatly produced in length, and without discernible 

 carina. I hesitate whether it should not be placed in the genus Calopus ; for it appears 

 to have two unequal toe-spines, the smaller fitting beneath the other, and about one- 

 fourth of its length. But the longer is straight, the shorter curved. So that, in defect 

 of fuller observation, I assume that the shorter is but one of the supplementary styles 

 common in this family ; though I could detect other minuter spinelets at the base. 



The. specimen I unfortunately neglected to measure ; but the total length to the toe- 

 point was, approximately, jig inch. — P.H.G.] Habitat. Woolston (^P.H.G.). 



M. ELONGATA, GOSSC, Sp. nOV. 



(PL XX. fig. 8.) 



[SP. CII. Body ncaiiij cijlindric, sliijJitlij larger before than behind ; lorioa .tmootli,- 

 cilgcd ill front ; ridge long, low, medial ; toe as long as the lorica ; sub-styles one- 

 twentieth the length of the toe. 



This seems a very distinct species. Its smooth, hyaline, arched lorica, with a widely 

 truncate front edge, quite smooth, but tapering in a graceful curve to the hinder end, 

 where a small tubular orifice, also abruptly truncate, allows emission of tlie foot ; is very 

 distinctive from the preceding two species, to which, however, its remarkable length 

 allies it. It is nearer to M. carinata than they ; yet sufficiently remote from this by 

 conspicuous characters ; in particular, by the dorsal ridge, which is low throughout, and, 

 as I believe, medial. The greatest depth of the lorica (viz. just behind the front edge) 

 is just one-fourth of its length. This front edge, destitute of points, is apparently 

 attenuated to thin membrane, thrown into minute transverse folds, inverted and everted 

 with the motions of the head-mass. The foot is of one minute joint, exterior to the 

 lorica. It bears one toe, a spine of great length and slenderness, almost quite straight, 

 nearly uniform in thickness to the fine point. Its length about equals that of the lorica. 

 Two accessory styles, very minute, are appressed to its base. The niastax is ample, and, 

 as in M. carinata, having two mallei, unequal and dissimilar. 



I owe my acquaintance with this charming species to Mr. Hood of Dundee, whose 

 keen eye had already detected its specific distinctness. He sent me, in November 188.5, 

 water from one of the pools near Dundee, containing a number of living specimens. 

 They are sprightly and active, swimming elegantly through the clear water, with a 

 smooth but swift gliding movement. — P.H.G.] 



L-ngth. Total, ,V i"ch ; of toe, jl-g inch ; of sub-styles, -ttVmt '"ch ; depth of lorica, 

 ^1,-, inch. Habitat. Loch near Dundee (J.H.) ; I)irmingham (P.H.G.) : not rare. 



M. EATTUS, Elirenborg. 

 (PL XX. fig. 9.) 

 Monoccrca rcttius . . . Ehvenberg, Die Infus. 1838, p. 422, Taf. xlviii. tit'. 7. 



[SP. CII. Body ovate, truncate in front, pointed behind; ridge reaching to tuo- 

 thirds, evenly arched; toe longer than hody-and-head together ; sub-styles, very viinutc. 



The lorica is elegantly ovate, subtruncate before, where a thick head protrudes, with 

 a rounded front, on which numerous pimples are beset with bristle-like cilia, making 



