Mr. P. H. Gosse on Asplanchna priodonta. 23 



specimens of a long slender Fragillaria loose in the cavity of the 

 body J and in the stomach of another the long cell of a Conferva. 

 On several I observed a small parasitic Colacium, 



As it is manifest that the characters of the genus Notommata 

 of Prof. Ehrenberg will not apply to these animals, I propose 

 to form them into a new genus, under the name Asplanchna 

 (a priv., o7r\dy')(yov, viscus), alluding to the remarkable absence 

 of the intestinal canal. It may be thus characterized : — 



Qen. Asplanchna. 



Animal rotatorium, ex Hydatinceorum familia, pede, intestine, et ano 

 carens ; ocellis, mandibulisque instructum ; sexibus sejunctis. 



The three species as yet detected may be thus defined : — 



1 . Asplanchna Brightwellii. 



A. ? mandibulis unidentatis ; oeello unico ; stomacho ovali, longi- 

 tudinali ; vesica lobata, majore ; corpusculis tremulis file extenso 

 affixis ; ovario bicornuto. Long. cir. -^^^^unc. — ^ mandibulis, pha- 

 rynge, et stomacho carens ; corpore truncate. Long. cir. -^ unc. 



Hab. Norwich, Leamington. 



I have honoured this species with the name of Mr. Brightwell, 

 its first discoverer and describer. 



2. Asplanchna priodonta. 



A. ? mandibulis serratis ; ocelHs tribus ; stomacho hemisphserico, 

 transverse ; vesica sphserica, minere ; corpusculis tremulis file con- 

 tortuplicato afiixis ; ovario subglebese. Long. cir. ^ imc. — 

 (^ corpore acute. Long, yto ^^c. 



Hab, Serpentine River, Kensington Gardens. 



The name alludes to the notched edge of the jaw ; Tr/Jto), serro, 

 ohov^y dens. 



3. Asplanchna Bowesii. 



A. $ mandibulis edentulis ; stomacho evali, lengitudinali ; vesica lo- 

 bata, majere ; [corpusculis tremulis non observatis ;] ovario bicor- 

 nuto. Long. cir. -^ unc. — [ (^ non vidi.] 



Hab. Walthamstow. 



This species I have named in honour of the esteemed relative 

 to whom I owe my acquaintance with it. 



EXPLANATION OF PLATES I. and IL 

 Plate I. 



a. Female : lateral aspect ; right side. The head is expanded ; the crop is 

 distended in the act of engulfing prey, two Chilomonads. A 

 similar animalcule is seen on the point of entering the sacculated 

 stomach. The contractile bladder is seen near the vagina, con- 

 tracted. The ovisac is empty and wrinkled ; lying m front of the 



