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IV . — The Botifera of China. 
By Surgeon V. Gunson Thorpe, R.N., F.R.M.S. 
( Read 15 th March , 1893.) 
Plates II. and III. 
The extensive plains on either bank of the great Yangstze-Kiang 
river, intersected as they are by innumerable river-like creeks, ponds 
in which the sacred lotus flower blooms, and ditches which surround 
on all sides the “ paddy ” fields of rice and cotton, afford a happy 
hunting ground, hitherto unexplored as regards the Rotifera, to the 
microscopist. The richness of life in these fresh waters is astonishing, 
and the store of new forms amongst all classes of fauna and flora which 
still awaits discovery, must be immense. This paper (with the 
exception of one species) includes the work of three months during 
which H.M.S. ‘ Peacock * was stationed in the river at Wuhu, a walled 
city about 260 miles from the mouth. It is necessarily somewhat 
incomplete, but the abundance of material induces me to publish what 
has already been accomplished and which I hope in a future paper to 
supplement. For the present, the drought, the commencement of 
the cold weather, and the general drainage of the water from the land, 
now that the rice harvest is over, has interrupted the acquirement 
of fresh material with which to continue the investigations. 
The following European species have been noted : — 
Actinurus neptunius. 
Anursea hypelasma. 
Asplanchnopus myrmeleo. 
Brachionus militaris. 
„ rubens. 
Cephalosiphon limnias. 
Colurus caudatus. 
Floscularia campanulata. 
Limnias annulatus. 
„ ceratopliylli. 
Megalotrocha semibullata. 
Melicerta ringens. 
Metopidia triptera. 
Noteus quadricornis. 
Pedalion mirum. 
Polyarthra platyptera. 
Proales parasitica. 
Pterodina patina. 
(Rhinops ?) orbiculodiscus. 
Rotifer macroceros. 
„ tardus. 
„ vulgaris. 
Triarthra longiseta. 
EXPLANATION OF PLATES II. AND III. 
Octotrocha speciosa. Fig. 1 a, Yentro-lateral view. 1 6, Dorsal lobes of corona. 
1 c, View of corona from ventral aspect, with head of rotifer curved dorsally. 1 d, 
Trophi. a, Upper dorsal lobe. /3, Lower dorsal lobe. 7, Lateral lobe. 5, Ventral 
lobe, e, Dorsal gap in the ciliary wreath. 
Trochosphsera solstitialis. Fig. 2 a. Dorsal view. 2 b, Side view. 2 c, Vascular 
system, showing the connection with the lateral antenna. . 
Lacinularia megalotrocha. Fig. 3, Dorso-lateral view. 
Dinocharis serica. Fig. 4, Dorsal view. 
Megalotrocha procera. Fig. 5 a, Ventral view. 56, Side view. 5 c, Corona, 
dorsal view. 5 d, Male. 
Megalotrocha spinosa. Fig. 6 a, Dorsal view. 6 6, Side view. 6 c, Side view ; 
rotifer in the act of contracting. 
Lacinularia racemovata. Fig. 7 a, Dorsal view. 7 6, Side view. 7 c, Ventral 
view. 7 d, Cluster. 7 e, Trophi. 
Notops lotos. Fig. 8 a, Ventral view. 8 6, Side view. 8 c, Trophi, 
