206 



On a Fresh Water Valved Vaginicola. 



shown in the annexed sketch. Part of these irregularities had 

 the appearance of accidental dents, and the form of a perfect 

 specimen might be nearly cylindrical with a rounded bottom. 



TAG1NICOLA AQUATICA VALVATA. 



The valve, or door, came close to the top of the'tube, and was 

 extremely delicate and transparent. The tube was inhabited 

 by two animals, one larger than the other ; the smaller one 

 being probably an offspring produced by the fission of its 

 parent. In retreating, the two creatures gave themselves a 

 spiral twist, and both emerged together, shoving the door 

 open before them. On their retreat, the door closed by the 

 elasticity of a reduplicated portion, which acted as a spring. 

 The diagram, Fig. 3, shows the nature of this construction. 

 A is the door or valve, and B, the springy part, turned up 

 against the side of the tube, and compressed each time the 

 door was thrust back and opened. 



The bodies of these creatures were finely striated in a 

 transverse direction, and they contained numerous patches of 

 green matter, like bright chlorophyll. The contractile vesicle 

 was very noticeable, but the other organs were obscure, and 

 an early loss of my only specimen prevented any detailed 

 examination. The presence or absence of green globules can 

 scarcely be regarded as indicative of specific distinction in 

 creatures of this description, being probably nothing more 



