Gransactions New Zealand Institute, Vol. XVIII., Pl. IX. Fig 1. The larva in his case. Length when full grown 2 lines, of the case 3 lines. Fig 2. The Pupa in his cocoon. Length 1/% lines. To illustrate Paper by G.V.Hudson. ART. XLII.-On some Specimens of Vorticelle collected in the neighbourhood of Wellington. By T. W. KIRK, Assistant, Geological Survey Department. [Read before the Wellington Philosophical Society (Microscopical Section), 15th February, 1886.] For some years past, whenever a Vorticella has come under my notice, I have made a sketch and taken careful notes. The receipt of a copy of Mr. W. Saville Kent's magnificent" Manual of Infusoria" has enabled me to identify most of the species observed. It should be remembered, however, that the present paper is only the result of a number of disconnected observations, and it must be distinctly understood that I do not for a moment claim to give an exhaustive list of the New Zealand Vorticella; on the contrary, I believe that there are probably double or treble the number of species here enumerated, and it is hoped that some microscopist, with sufficient time at his disposal to do the subject justice, may be induced to take up the search for and systematic examination of these flowers of the infusorian world. Vorticella annularis, Müller. (Saville Kent, Man. Inf., p. 689, pl. xxxix., figs. 28, 29.) I am doubtful about the identification of this species. Specimens agreeing with Kent's description and figure, except that they were much smaller and the pedicel shorter, were obtained in a stream at Karori in 1880. They were attached to the stems of partially-decayed leaves. V. marina, Greeff. (Saville Kent, Man. Inf., p. 685, pl. xxxv., figs. 1-8; pl. xlix., fig. 30.) Numerous examples are to be found at all seasons of the year in the small rock-ponds which abound on the shores of Port Nicholson and Cook Strait. The body is slightly more tapering posteriorly, and the pedicel is longer than in Kent's description, being fully seven times the length of the body. V. oblonga, n. s. Body oblong, nearly twice as long as broad, rounded nearly equally at both ends, encircled by a number of interrupted lines looking like puckers; pedicel stout, four times as long as the body, contracting by loops, and apparently too weak to support the body for long in an erect position, as it gradually leans either to one side or the other till it meets with some object, where it rests for a short time and then resumes the upright attitude. A large species, attached to seaweed. V. longifilum, Saville Kent. (Saville Kent, Man. Inf., p. 677, pl. xxiv., fig. 30; pl. xlix., fig. 10.) Wellington Reservoir, September to February. Collected in 1884-5. Common. V. campanula, Ehrenberg. (Saville Kent, Man. Inf., p. 678, pl. xxxiv., fig. 36; pl. xlix., fig. 12.) Wellington Reservoir, with the last-mentioned species, and equally common. V. cratera, Saville Kent. (Saville Kent, Man. Inf., p. 679, pl. xxxiv., fig. 22 ; pl. xlix., fig. 14.) Some specimens so closely resembling this species were obtained from water brought from the Wainuiomata, that I am compelled to refer them to it, although I was quite unable to detect any appearance of the "frill-like aspect presented by the peristome border," mentioned by Saville Kent. The border appeared to me to be perfectly whole. V. citrina, Ehrenberg. (Saville Kent, Man. Inf., p. 678, pl. xxxv., fig. 9; pl. 49, fig. 13.) On Azolla rubra, from ditch in Evans Bay. V. zealandica, n. s. Body attenuate, from two to three times as long as the greatest breadth, tapering downwards, considerably constricted below the peristome, then swelling for rather more than half the length, when it again becomes constricted; then a nearly circular swelling, giving the posterior end an unusually blunt appearance. Apparently striated perpendicularly, but of this I am not certain, as sometimes the striations were seen, while at others they disappeared, as though at the will of the animal. Pedicel slight, four times the length of the body. Pond in Newtown Park. V. elongata, De Fromentel. (Saville Kent, Man. Inf., p. 686, pl. xxxv., fig. 25; pl. xlix., fig. 42.) Specimens were taken in November, 1884, from the pond in the Botanic Garden, attached to the leaves of the water lily. The pedicel, however, was much shorter than mentioned by Saville Kent, being never more than three times the total length of the body. V. patellina, Müller. (Saville Kent, Man. Inf., p. 679, pl. xxxiv., fig. 28; pl. xlix., fig. 16.) Newtown Park and Wainuiomata. V. nebulifera, Ehrenberg. (Saville Kent, Man. Inf., p. 673, pl. xxxiv., fig. 20; pl. xlix., fig. 1.) Ditch in Evans Bay, on Azolla; Botanic Garden pond, on grass. V. striata, Dujardin. (Saville Kent, Man. Inf., p. 684, pl. xxxiv., figs. 15-19; pl. xlix., fig. 29.) On Algae in Wellington Harbour, 1883, but not seen since. V. aperta, De Fromentel. (Saville Kent, Man. Inf., p. 680, pl. xlix., fig. 17.) Examples closely resembling this species were obtained in 1884 from the pond in Newtown Park. The body, however, was fully twice as long as wide, and was more constricted beneath the peristome border than shown in Saville Kent's figure. |