OF DENISON UNIVERSITY. 
59 
ORDER III. PLOIMA. 
Sub-order. IL-LORICATA. 
Family. ASPLANCHNADAE. 
IV. Genus Asplanchna, Gosse. 
^p- 5- Asplanchna cincinnatiensis , sp. n. 
[Plate I; Fig. 4, 5.] 
To the naked eye this beautifully transparent specimen resembles 
a miniature sea-urchin. 
Body of female saccate, free from humps, widest caudad of the 
middle. The eye is single, cervical. When viewed by transmitted 
light, the eye appears to be dark brown or black. Trophi incudate, 
not enclosed in a mastax. Rami pointed, extremity unnotched, un- 
serrated. About half way between the distal and the proximal extremity 
of each ramus a large tooth projects entad. In the adult female the 
trophi, when at rest, are usually lateral and situated in the cervical 
region. In the young they are usually median. Flocculent ribbon 
double, the laterad portion is convoluted at its two extremities; while 
the mesad portion is straight and bears about fifteen vibratile tags. 
Gastric glands oval. These animals often contain several embryos 
at the same time. The nearest ally to this species is A. brightwellii^ 
Gosse ; from this our specimen is readily distinguished by the pointed, 
unnotched rami 
Habitat: clear stagnant water, containing plant life. This spe- 
cies is not widely distributed but is very abundant where it does occur. 
Either this or a closely allied species his been encounted in clear 
stagnant pools that do not contain water plants. Length about i m.m. 
The Brachionidae and allied forms appear to form the chief food 
of this species. I have seen individuals with the remains of two brachi- 
oni [Brachionis urceolaris, Ehrenberg), in its stomach at the same time. 
On another occasion I saw them gorged with the remains of Anur- 
aea cochlearis^ Gosse. 
Sub-order. LORICATA. 
Family. RATTULIDAE. 
V. Genus Mastigocerca, Gosse. 
Sp. 6 . Mastigocerca rattus, Ehrenberg. 
Mastigocerca rattus, 1 1 udson and Gosse, The Rotifera or 
Wheel-animalcules; Vol. II, p. 6i\ pi. XX, tig. 9 . 
