the rotifera

well-marked battalions. Nature knows no liard lines of separation; and the best of
classifications can be only that which contains the fewest faults : as Miiller has forcibly
said, ' Optima est, qute paucioribus liorret.'
Order I.
RHIZOTA.
Fixed when adult; foot transversely wrinkled, not retractile within the body, ending
in a slicking disk or cup.
Fam. 1. Flosculariadce (PI. C, fig. 1).
Corona produced longitudinally into setigerous lobes ; buccal orifice central;
wreath a single half-circle above the buccal orifice ; troplii uncinate. 1
ciliary
Fam. 2. Melicertadce (PI. C, fig. 2).
Corona not produced into setigerous lobes ; buccal orifice lateral; ciliary wreath a
marginal continuous curve, bent on itself at the dorsal surface, so as to encircle the
corona twice, with the buccal orifice between its upper and lower curves, and having also
a dorsal gap between its points of flexure ; trophi malleo-ramate. 1
Order II.
BDELLOIDA.
That swim with their ciliary wreath, and creep like a leech; foot wholly
within the body, telescopic, furcate.
retractile
Fam. 3. Philodinadcz (PI. C, fig. 3).
Corona two transverse circular lobes; ciliary ivreath a marginal continuous curve
bent on itself at the dorsal surface, so as to encircle the corona twice, with the buccal
orifice between its upper and lower curves, and having also two gaps, the one dorsal
between its points of flexure, and the other a ventral gap in the upper curve opposite to
the buccal orifice : trophi ramate. 1
Fam. 4. Adinetada (PI. C, fig. 4).
Corona a flat ventrally placed surface; ciliary wreath the furred ventral surface of
the corona ; trophi ramate. 1 Order III. PLOIMA.
That swim with their ciliary wreath, and (in some cases) creep with their toes.
Sub-order. Il-loricata.
Foot, when present, almost invariably furcate ; but not transversely wrinkled;
more than feebly telescopic, and partially retractile.
rarely
Fam. 5.
Microcodidce.
Corona obliquely transverse, flat, circular; buccal orifice central; ciliary ivreath a
marginal continuous curve encircling the corona, and two curves of larger cilia, one on
each side of the buccal orifice ; trophi forcipate 1 ; foot stylate.
Fam. 6. Asplanchnadce (PI. C. fig. 7).
Corona two transverse, flattened, confluent cones, with their summits distinct;
ciliary ivreath single, marginal; trophi incudate 1 ; intestine, cloaca, and foot, absent.
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