its name), somewhat similar in appearance to those of Floscularia campanulata. The dorsal lobe is frequently much larger than the other two; and when such is the case, it is commonly curved forwards over the funnel-shaped mouth, and presents a somewhat hooded appearance. The setæ are not only much shorter than in other floscules, but they are also differently arranged, being placed between the lobes as well as on their summits, forming a kind of unbroken fringe along the entire margin of the disc; the interlobular setæ are, however, much shorter and finer than those on the summits of the lobes. Two cervical eyes are present only in the young. Vibratile cilia are seen distinctly along the course of the pharynx, as far as the maxillary apparatus, which latter organ, occupying the same position as in other floscules, is armed with three pairs of teeth. The ovary is large. The egg, when expelled, remains attached. The cloaca is situated unusually high in the body, and there is a long canal leading from the intestine and ovary to it. The foot is of great length, and much wrinkled. This is the largest of the floscules; its total length is about the of an inch. It is very rare, being found in only one small pool in the parish of Sandhurst during the years 1864, '65, and '66. It is usually attached to moss.

Fig. 7. Floscularia edentata.

Floscularia edentata.-This is a doubtful species, and perhaps not a true floscule, but more nearly allied to that genus than to any other. It has no tube. The disc or rotatory organ has a few fine setæ attached to it; it is irregular in form, and is not divided into lobes. The creature has no maxillary apparatus, nor has it any teeth. Its food passes directly through the throat into a very capacious stomach, where a variety of the lower forms of life (some of large size) may be seen undergoing the process of digestion. The foot is short, but of variable length; in one specimen a good deal wrinkled. This form of rotifer is very rare; I have seen only two specimens. Each laid an egg while under observation, which remained attached, but

were both unfortunately lost before the young ones were hatched. Length of the animal, about the of an inch. Habitat, same as Floscularia trilobata. Notommata caudata.-Eye single, cervical; head somewhat rounded, connected with the body by a long narrow neck. Attached to the head is a (one only) short, singular, flexible, tube-like appendage (tentacle ?), surmounted by sete. The body, which is somewhat elliptical, is prolonged posteriorly into a kind of tail, on the

dorsal surface of which a rounded prominence is observed, and from its summit there proceeds a small setigenous tube,

not unlike, in appearance, the one attached to the head. Beneath this so-called tail, but separated from it by the cloaca, a long narrow foot, with two small pointed toes, joins the body. The maxillary bulb is placed high in the neck, and from it a long œsophagus, with a kidney-shaped gland on each side of it, leads to a large stomach. The ovary is large, and contains from eight to twelve germinal vesicles. When magnified up to 350 diameters, water vascular canals are distinctly seen. Total length, Tʊ of an inch. Habitat, pools in the parish of Sandhurst.

Stephanops uniseta.-Eyes two, small, frontal; anterior portion of the lorica is expanded into a kind of hood, as in Stephanops muticus, but much smaller in proportion to the size of the body. This hood is remarkably clear and crystalline; and the body, although the lorica presents a somewhat tesselated appearance, is so transparent that it is impossible to determine the internal structures. The foot is about half the length of the body; it is furnished with three toes,-one, the dorsal, being scarce half as long as the others. A long, tremulous bristle-which is fixed into a kind of socket or tube, situated in the centre of the back at about

* I could never ascertain the exact point to which this appendage is attached.

On hedge-banks near Theire :-
Eurynchium Swarzii.
Scleropodium illecebrum.

In the marsh on Keston Common:-
Sphagnum molluscum and others.
Campylopus torfaceus.

In a small pond on Shirley Common :--
Bartramia fontana.
Hypnum aduncum.

I have not explored any other metropolitan district, and should be glad to know, for my own and general information, if any interesting species have been found elsewhere. T. HowSE, F.L.S.

over every-day life. We feel that we ourselves are writing for readers in Natural Science, many of whom owe their "conversion" to Mr. Wood. The announcement, therefore, of a new work from his pen cannot fail to interest the reading public, especially as it appears in the height of the "reading season." The additional information that this work is occupied with a subject which is the author's favourite study-Entomology-will raise expectation still higher. "When Greek joins Greek, then comes the tug of war." There is something in cutting the leaves of a handsome volume like that before us, embellished with upwards of seven hundred figures, and occupying nearly seven hundred pages

"INSECTS AT HOME."*

FEW NEW writers have done more to popularize Natural History than the Rev. J. G. Wood, He has the art of attracting readers towards a subect they perhaps never cared about before, solely by showing them how earnest he is in its study himself, and what a charm its pursuit can throw

"Insects at Home; being a popular Account of British Insects." By the Rev. J. G. Wood, F.L.S., &c. London: Longmans, Green, & Co. 1872.

in its decsriptions of insects of every kind, from the beetle to the common house-fly!

kind,-from a popular scientific aspect, and also There are two ways of criticising a book of this the former, we unhesitatingly avow our belief that from a purely technical point of view. In adopting "Insects at Home" will be a godsend to many a young entomologist. The various groups of insects have their anatomy illustrated, part by part, by some familiar type, as the accompanying plates (kindly lent us by the publishers) will best show: