Page:Midland naturalist (IA midlandnaturalis01lond).pdf/96



At the recent conversazione of the Birmingham and Midland Institute, one of my correspondents, to whom I had sent some Melicerta ringens from here, introduced himself to me. and incidentally mentioned that he had found Conochilus volvox very abundant in a pond near Redditeh. (See his letter, S.S.R., Redditch, in "Midland Naturalist," page 50.) As I had only seen this interesting rotifer once before, (at a soirée of the Quekett Club,) nor ever heard of its having been found in this neighbourhood previously, I gladly made an appointment to visit the pond, which I did on the following Saturday. I was much pleased on the first dip to find many specimens in my bottle, and I hastened, as time pressed, to carry home as many as possible. Of these I sent a bottle, containing nine groups, to a correspondent at Croydon, (a twenty-four hours' post,) of which only two groups survived the shaking of the journey, the individual rotifers, of which the groups consist, being so easily separated. After this I found my stock very rapidly disappeared, owing, (I attributed) to the number of larvæ and entomostraca which I had imprudently allowed to remain with the rotifers, and I, therefore, decided to pay another visit to Redditch. This time, as I was carefully examining the water at the pond side, I found a number of Melicerta on the duck-weed, of which brought home a small quantity to my friend's house. It was a surprise to him, as he had, up to that time, overlooked it. As soon as he recognised the object, by the aid of his packet lens, he called my attention to the large size of the pellets, of which the cases were built up. On reaching home I put the Melicerta under my compound microscope, and was surprised to see how marked a difference there was in the size and shape of the pellets as compared with those of the Melicerta I find in the pool here. The pellets of the latter have, where they project from the exterior of the case, a nearly hemispherical surface, whereas those of the specimens from Redditch appear to cover the ease with small cones, nearly of the shape of sugar loaves; and on further examination I also see a great difference in the shape of the pellet cup, quite equivalent to the difference shape of the pellets. I cannot help thinking this is a variety of Melicerta distinct from the one I have usually found. I heave sent specimens to F. A. Bedwell, Esq., and to Dr. Hudson, for their opinion. Further examination of the duck-weed, from Redditch, showed me that it abounded with another rotifer I had never found before, Cephalosiphon limnius, figured by Dr. Hudson in the October, 1875, number of the "Monthly Microscopical Journal;" and curiously enough I also found a single specimen of what I call Chætospira cylindrica, which he figures in the same plate as Archimedea (Chætospira ?) remex, and which he had found associated on the same weed (Anacharis) with the Cephalosiphon limnias. This infusorian I found here (the Hyde Pool) in August, 1872, on Myriophyllum, and it was named by Mr. W. Saville Kent, to whom I sent specimens, Chætospira cylindrica. I still further found on this duck weed, amongst other infusoria, in any specimens of Vaginicola decumbens and Epistylis natans. Subsequently I found three Tardigrada, or water bears, diligently creeping about, and tugging away at the decaying portions of the Lemna. I cannot help saying I have seldom come across a locality of better promise to a naturalist taking any interest in pond life—, Hyde House, Stourbridge.