HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



5 



slightly smaller dimensions, the two being connected 

 together at their 'lateral margins by flexible mem- 

 brane. The dorsal plate is armed in front with six 

 projecting spines, of which the two median ones 

 (antlers) are fully twice the length of the remaining 

 four, and much decurved so as to arch over, and 

 protect, the animal's coronal head, when the latter 

 is normally protruded in rotation. The four lateral 

 frontal spines are all of equal size ; the space between 

 the central antlers forms a square bay. Behind, the 

 dorsal plate of the lorica is produced at each rear 

 lateral angle into a spine ; that on the animal's right 

 side being always much the longer and hollow for 

 one-third of its length from the base, while the left 

 spine is usually only half as long as its fellow, and 



Fig. 5. — A. valga. Trophi. 



Fig. 6. — Anuraa valga. — Dorsal view, omitting lorical 

 markings : a, lateral canal ; b, contractile bladder. 



may even be altogether missing. The specimens 

 with, and without, this left posterior spine occur in- 

 termingled, and differ from each other in no other 

 point. 



The facetting of the dorsal plate is precisely that of 

 acukata, composed of a longitudinal series of hexagons 

 occupying the middle line of the back, with imperfect 

 lateral polygons; the hexagons are not always 

 geometrically accurate, their bounding lines being 

 often of unequal lengths, as is also the case in some 

 specimens of aculeata. In addition to the facets, 

 the entire dorsal plate, and also at least the frontal 

 portion of the ventral plate, is studded with small 

 but prominent dots, which are as usual more de- 

 veloped, forming, in fact, small teeth, along the 

 lateral edges of the ventral plate. 



The total length of the lorica, including the longest 

 spines, is -r^th inch. 



Now as to the enclosed animal. The corona when 

 fully extruded from between the plates is seen to be 

 in all respects like that of the other species of 

 Anureea, with three style-bearing lobes, one dorsal and 

 one on each side, projected from the ciliated face. 

 The mastax is a comparatively large, cuboidal sac, 

 furnished with salivary glands attached to its rear 

 surface ; the contained trophi, when pressed out, are 

 seen to be of the normal malleate type, with five- 

 toothed unci, and stout manubria of equal length ; 



Fig. 7. — Melicerta pcdinicitlata: (foot-pedicel). 



Fig. 8. — Melicerta ringens : (short foot-pedicel). 



the incus-rami are also cut along their inner edges 

 into a number (about six) of very minute serrations : 

 fulcrum short. 



The remaining digestive, reproductive, and renal 

 organs are perfectly normal and need no special 

 description here ; the contractile vesicle expands to a 

 large proportionate size, and the attached lateral 

 canals join it, on each side, at its point of junction 

 with the cloaca, even if they be not indeed entirety 

 free from it. This imperfect connection between the 

 lateral canals and the contractile bladder, which has 

 been also noticed by Gosse in Brachionus urceolaris, 

 and even more markedly by Semper in Trochosphsra, 

 seems to me to strongly confirm Dr. Hudson's recent 

 conception of the branchial function of the bladder 

 apart from the renal one of the canals and their tags. 



