32 



water to evaporate and kept the bottom-residue in a dried state 

 during the succeeding winter. In May 1887 fresh water was 

 again poured on the mud, and in the course of the following 

 month I had the satisfaction of seeing numerous specimens of 

 this form reappear, evidently hatched from the winter-eggs de- 

 posited in the mud the year before. These specimens continued 

 to multiply in the usual manner during the summer, and finally 

 at the approach of the autumn, produced winter-eggs before 

 disappearing. I still keep this aquary for further experiments, 

 and do not doubt, that a new generation of specimens will ap- 

 pear next summer. In regard to habits, the present species 

 closely resembles the European form M. Micornis, Jurine. Thus, 

 for example, it is generally found near the bottom, only seldom 

 approaching the surface of the water. It moves rather quickly, 

 by short jerks, the body being generally kept in a somewhat 

 prone attitude. Now and then, too, it will revolve before reach- 

 ing the bottom. As is generally the case with other Cladocera, 

 the specimens belonging to the summer-generations are more 

 quick in their movements than those hatched in the autumn, and 

 more especially the individuals provided with winter-eggs are 

 considerably less active, apparently owing to the weight of the 

 ephippia. The males are as rule rather more active than the 

 females. 



Occurrence. — Although this species was domesticated in as 

 many as 3 of my aquaries, all the individuals were derived 

 from the same parcel of dried mud, collected on the 14th March 

 1885 from a fresh water Lagoon, called „Crescent Lagoon", 2 

 miles from Eockhampton. It was from the same mud I suc- 

 ceeded in raising the interesting Phyllopode, GyclestJieria hslopi 

 (Baird), described in a previous paper, and several other Ento- 

 mostraca were also derived from this source. — Mr. King me< 

 with the present species at the South Creek and in a pond on 

 the road side between Liverpool and Sidney. 



