ME. P. H. GOSSE ON THE DKECIOUS CHAEACTEE OE THE EOTIFEEA. 
321 
each produced a little animalcule (figs. 27, 28, 29), which, in its form, brightness, and 
motions, greatly resembled a free Vorticella. Its length was of inch. The 
head (fig. 27) is very large, and the body tapers quickly to the posterior part, but both 
extremities are truncate. The front bears two warts, between which the rotatory cilia 
are placed, but the cilia are longer (perhaps setae) on the warts. The hinder part is 
bifid (figs. 28, 29), the smaller division being the caudal extremity or toeless foot, and 
the larger a protrusile truncate penis, ciliated at the tip. No internal organization is 
discoverable. In one there was a globule in the midst of the great head, but under 
sunhght it reflected no colom', and it was wanting in another. Towards the posterior 
dorsal parts, a few irregular dark specks were visible, but generally the whole animal 
W'as clear, colomless, highly refracting, and showing an indistinct granulation. Its 
motions were swift and impatient, gliding about the field with headlong speed, occasion- 
ally remaining in one place for a few minutes, but not in stillness, for it was rapidly 
oscillating to and fro, and quivering. 
29. The last observation that I have to ofier is on Synchceta tremula. This genus 
does not carry about its eggs after their escape from the ovary, and as I did not see the 
hatching of the male I am about to describe, I cannot identify it with positive certainty. 
30. In a phial of water obtained near Leamington, this Synchceta was very numerous, 
but I am not aware that any other Rotiferous animal was present. Among the hundreds 
which congregated, in their playful gyrations, just above the sediment, I found a speci- 
men (figs. 30, 31) which was certainly a male, and, from its form, was probably of this 
genus. It was about of inch long, obconical, with a rounded front, set with 
many long cilia, and surrounded by a prominent ring, also set with long cilia. The 
body was capable of taking a swollen or round form, when the separate foot was more 
distinct (fig. 31). The organization differed not from that of males of other species. A 
red eye sharply defined, a central granular viscus, contained in a longitudinal cavity, in 
the bottom of which lay a large, irregular, opake white mass, was all that could be 
traced internally. The foot seemed to carry a great protrusile penis, and to terminate 
in two minute toes. No spermatozoa were visible within, nor were expressed by the 
compressorium. The animal was active and swift. A constriction behind the wreath 
of cilia formed a well-marked lieck. 
31. From the following observations which I published in the ‘ Journal of Microsco- 
pical Science’ for January 1853, I think I am justified in concluding that Melicerta 
ringens also produces separate male and female young : — 
“ Opening one or two cases [of Melicerta), I freed one and another very curious egg- 
like bodies, not symmetrical in shape, being much more gibbous on one side than on 
the opposite, and measuring y^th X 2 -^th of an inch. Each was encircled by five or six 
raised ribs, running parallel to each other longitudinally, somewhat like the varices of a 
wentle-trap. Viewed perpendicularly to the ribs, the form is symmetrical — a long narrow 
oval. The whole surface between the ribs appeared punctured or granulate, and the 
colour was a dull brownish-yellow. Under pressure it was ruptured, and discharged an 
MDCCCLVII. 2 u 
