
POND-LIFE NEAR ASHTON-UNDER-LYNE. 185 

Bridge, an occasional dip will supply any student with materials for 
a week’s study. The various forms of microscopic life are here 
found in the greatest abundance, although the water appears like 
ink itself and but little likely to sustain such beautiful organisms as 
may be found therein. 
Shortly after leaving Clarence Bridge, the collector will not fail 
to observe the Hydra vulgaris, covered perhaps with its parasite 
Trichodina pediculus, It occurs on the walls of the canal, and also 
on loose stones near Whitehead’s Twist Spinning Co.’s Mills: its 
color when found in this locality is milky white. 
Along with the Hydra may be found Plumatella repens, but 
rather sparingly, and it is very difficult to procure, owing to its close 
adhesion to the stones. After passing the last lock and crossing 
the bridge, Aiccia fluitans may be seen growing upon the walls of 
the canal at the water line—many species of Vorticella, Epistylis 
and Carchesium are to be found on this Hepatic, amongst others, 
the following :— 
V. microstoma, V. nebulifera, V. campanula, E. anastatica, £. 
grandis, E. digitalis, E. nutans, and the rather rare £. plicatus, C. 
polypinum, and C. spectabile, 1 have met with the foregoing, also, 
on the Ricciw conferva, near Park Parade station. 
Upon the walls, near the bottom of the canal, may be found 
Fredericella sultana, Stentor Miilleri, Trachelius ovum, Limnias 
ceratophylli, Cothurnia imberbis, Vaginicola crystallina, V. valvata. 
I have also found one cluster of OpArydium, but not lately in the 
canal, although searched for very carefully. 
On crossing the junction at Dukinfield the Fresh-water sponge 
(Spongia fluviatilis) is found in plenty, and in the autumn produces 
a vast quantity of gemmules, which are very interesting to the 
microscopist. Imbedded in the sponge may often be seen Fredert- 
cella sultana, which in this situation appears to be less shy, for they 
open out immediately they are placed in water. Following the 
canal beyond Guide Bridge and near a new mill there, Plumatella 
may be found in fine condition, a variety I think only attached at 
the base, and not creeping as in the typical form. On nearing the 
Stamford colliery and leaving the canal, there is a foot-road leading 
close to the pit-shaft, near to which are two ponds rich in micros- 
copic life. ; ; 
At various times I have obtained the following :—Dinobryon 
sertularia, Chetophora elegans, Ophrydium versatile, Stentor poly- 
morphus, with Desmids and Diatoms in abundance. 
Below the Snipe Inn, near the new railway, off Droylsden-road, 
there are a number of pits, which, taking them together, are the 
best in this neighbourhood. I have gathered Volvox globator, Pan- 
dorina morum, Gonium pectorale, Draparnaldia glomerata, Batra- 
chospermum moniliforme, and Chatophora elegans. A species of 
