WHEEL-BEAREBS. 



247 



below the level of their base, in the centre of the dorsal 

 region, you see the large eye, of a deep red hue, so deep 

 that it frequently looks as if it were actually and intensely 

 black. Just below the eye, apparently, but considerably 

 more towards the ventral aspect, there is a huge mastax, 

 occupying almost half the length of the whole body. The 

 jaws are very simple in their construction, and therefore 

 very instructive, for they contain the same elements as in 

 Brachionus; but from their excessive tenuity, and for 

 other reasons connected with the form of the animal, they 

 are calculated to tax to the utmost your perseverance and 

 skill in manipulation to resolve them. They were an 

 enigma to me for years. 



The great mastax is pear-shaped, pointing obliquely 

 towards the middle of the belly. This form is owing to 

 the great length of the fulcrum, and the wide curvature of 



SWORD-BEARER. 



the mallei. The rami are very broad, somewhat square 

 at their base, flat, but much arched longitudinally. They 

 open and shut vigorously, with a snapping action, but are 



