798 MR. D. BUTCE ON THE [June 15, 



18. Adineta bahbata, Janson. 



This well-marked species was seen several times. 



19. ADiifETA GEACiLis, Janson. 



Two or three small and slender examples seemed to belong to 

 this species, but the form is diflicult to distinguish from young 

 specimens of A. vac/a var. minor, unless a very good definition of 

 the rostrum can be obtained. 



Order PLOIMA. 

 I. Illobicata. 



20. PeoaIiES decipiens, Ehr. 

 Two or three examples only. 



21. FmCHLAEIA GRACILIS, Ehr. 



One specimen. 



22. Diglena peemollis, Gosse. 



This species occurs rather frequently in mosses and even in 

 such as grow in positions usually dry. It would thus seem to be 

 able, like so many of the Bdelloida, to protect itself against the 

 fatal lack of moisture. For although some writers have loosely 

 ascribed this protective faculty to theEotifera in general, I believe 

 it to be in the main confiued to the Bdelloida, and even there not 

 universal. In the mosses now examined this species was not 

 infrequent. 



11. LOEICATA. 



23. Stephanops stylattts, Milne (7). 



A few examples enabled me to verify the general accuracy of 

 Milne's description, and particularly of the mastax as figured by 

 him. 



24. StEPHAXOPS TENELLrS, n. sp. 



SiJ. Ch. Lorica delicate, yielding, latei'ally overlapping the 

 verv slender body ; posteriorly broadly and roundly truncate ; head- 

 plate prominent, subsquare, decurved. Face prone, with several 

 uncinate and one pair (at least) of long straight styles. Mastax 

 twice as long as broad. Foot slender, retractile ; toes two, nearly 

 parallel, decurved, about 3 of foot. Maximum length about 

 0*080 mm. or barely ^ko in^^l"- 



One of the very smallest Eotifera known and of exceedingly 

 delicate structure. In general form, if not in size, in structural 

 details, in habit of life, and in its most characteristic movements, 

 it is almost the counterpart of S. stylatus, and indeed when I first 

 met with it in 1891 in company with Disti/la agilis I took it to be 

 simply the very young form of its congener, m hich when adult is 

 fully twice as long. In the present instance I had isolated a 

 specimen to make certain that it was not D. agilis, when it almost 



