THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 65 



This event I was fortunate in witnessing on an occasion when I 

 had a specimen of Rotifera vulgaris under observation, which 

 contained a fully developed young one, when on a sudden it 

 withdrew its " wheels " and bent over to one side, when instantly 

 the young rotifer issued by an opening at the outer angle of the 

 bend, literally leaping into being, and in a few seconds it was 

 anchored by its foot with its cilia and jaws in full operation. 

 Other genera, again, deposit their eggs in the water, where they 

 hatch ; while in some cases they remain attached to the outside 

 of the body, and are carried about. In the world of the Rotifera 

 the male is decidedly an inferior person, for of all the species in 

 which the male has been seen, it is found destitute of nutritive 

 organs, of inferior size, and much less numerous than the female. 

 In my own experience I have never positively identified a male 

 except in the case I have mentioned. 



To return to the captures on this occasion. A further exami- 

 nation revealed a form much resembling Asplanchna brightweltii, 

 but possessing a foot which it had a curious habit of using as a 

 pivot — keeping it pressed to the glass, while it swung its body 

 rapidly round for some time, when it would suddenly dart away. 

 This I identified as Notops davulatus. Further investigation 

 brought to view a tube builder, Limnias ceratophyl/i, which 

 plasters up a brown tube, and although not so lovely a form as 

 Melicerta ringcns, which I brought to one of our meetings some 

 time ago, is still beautiful, as it protracts its two-lobed disc, 

 wreathed with cilia. My material also contained a Floscularian, 

 which I failed to keep in view long enough to identify the species. 

 It was sessile, and surrounded by a gelatinous sheath into which 

 it could retract itself. The head, when protruded, ended in six 

 knobs, from each of which radiated long straight threads, which 

 required careful observation to trace to their full length. The 

 transparence of the sheath exposed to view the jaws in full opera- 

 tion, and a stomach gorged with food. Eggs were enclosed in the 

 gelatinous sheaths, and one animal I noticed with a smaller form 

 attached to the side of the sheath. 



These were the whole of the rotifera found, but there were 

 many other forms of life, among which was the plant Volvox 

 globator. The pond was only about 15 feet in diameter, and I 

 did not bring away more than a pint of water. Considering this 

 small gathering contained representatives of four genera of 

 rotifera, and numerous other organisms, I felt amply rewarded 

 for my exertions. 



We learn from Mr. Tisdall that the English Foxglove has 

 established itself on the slopes of the Stringer's Creek Valley, 

 near Walhalla. Last season in some parts the banks were purple 

 with them. 



