46 
BULLETIN OF THE LABORATORIES 
respiration taking place, as in many small entomostraca, through the 
body surface, and circulation is affected by the rythmical movements 
of the digestive tube and the ciliary action in the later vessels. 
In mature females much of the body cavity is filled by the ovary 
and the yolk masses or eggs. The ovary is disc-shaped, botryoidal 
or variously contoured and in the grey substance exhibits hyaline spots 
containing the nucleated ovule cells. A part of the ovary temporari- 
ly secretes the yolk when the egg reaches maturity, so that the appear- 
ance of the viscera differs greatly at different times. The egg, after 
extrusion, is commonly carried about in a delicate external brood-sac 
as in copepoda. 
To add here the details of the development of the egg would lead 
us too far. The male, as before said, has no functional digestive tract 
and is not only much smaller than the female, but suffers a reduction in 
many organs. The sensory organs are, however, well developed. The 
testis is spindle-shaped or oval and opens in a papilla, which also con- 
tains the opening of the water chamber or pulsating vessel. The 
spermatozoa are rod-like or thread-like and motile. 
The Rotifera are found in fresh and salt water over the entire globe. 
Some species may be found in damp situations on land. They exceed 
even the lower Crustacea in their great adaptability to changes in out- 
ward surroundings. Not only is drought not destructive to the eggs, 
but the animal itself endures a long period of dissication. Other 
notes upon the habits must find their place under the special descrip- 
tions. 
Descriptive Part . — As above stated, the following descriptions are 
given without attempt at orderly arrangement, with the expectation of 
ultimately attempting a systematic review. In cases where lack of 
literary aids make positive identification impossible, the description 
alone will be given, awaiting future identification. 
CxENUS FLOSCULARIA, Oken. 
The head is margined by five oval processes bearing exceedingly long setae of 
excessive fineness. The mouth is central, with a funnel-form opening. There is 
a crop-like vestibule, separated by a partition from the phaiynx, except in the cen- 
tre, which is perforate, the opening being margined by several pendulous cilia. 
The adult is attached by a long, jointed foot, but the young is motile and possesses 
eyes, which are aborted after the metamorphosis. 
