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The following diagrams illustrate the method: Les cartes ou les planches trop grandes pour dtre reproduites en un seul clich6 sont fiimdes 6 partir de I'angle sup6rieure gauche, de gauche 6 droite et de haut en bas. en prenant le nombre d'images n6cessaire. Le diagramme suivant illustre la mdthode : 1 2 3 1 6 ^) 7 BIOLOGICAL STUDY OF THE TAP WATER IN THE SCHOOL OF PRACTICAL SCIENCE, TORONTO. BY GEO. ACHESON, M. A. SeUnu Uaster in Toronto Collegiate Institute. -^ -)\ Ui )K«UU|U«( BIOLOGICAL STUDY OF THE TAP WATEK IN THE SCHOOL OF PRACTICAL SCIENCE, TORONTO. BY GEO. AGHESON, M. A. Science Master in Toronto Collegiate Institute. The object of this paper i.s to give the results of investigations into the biological nature of the suspended matter in the tap-water of the School of Practical Science. No pretence is made of being exhaustive, for tlie work has only been carried on at intervals, and observations for any definite length of time have not been continu- ous. The results therefore are fragmentary, but mav serve as a basis for future and more extensive research. A thoroughly systematic examination of the water sliould include not merely the detcmina- tion of the animal and vegetable species which are to be found in it, but the physiological influence which these organisms exert, and their importance from a sanitary standpoint. This subject accord- ingly may be dealt with from both a morphological and a physio- logical point of view. It is with the first of these aspects only that the present paper is concerned. In regard however to the physio- logical and hygienic aspect it may be briefly observed, that the purity of water does not depend merely on the quantity of organic matters which it contains ; for, if these be living vegetable growths containing chlorophyll, they have a beneficial influence on the water, by supplying oxygen to it and removing carbon dioxide, provided, of course, that their presence in large quantities does not counterbalance their salutary effects. On the other hand, there are organisms whicli, even if present only in small numbers, exert a vei*y prejudi- cial influence, and which, if undoubtedly recognized as constantly occurring, should mark a water as unfit for use. To obtain matter for examination two methods may be employed. One is to tie a muslin bag to the tap and allow the water to run in a slow stream for a few hours ; then, taking off' the bag, rinse it in a small quantity of water, which, on being allowed to settle for a 4 BIOLOGICAL STUDY OF TAP WATER. few minutes, will afford an abundant supply of sediment. The other plan is to open the tap to the full oxtent and allow it to run for a short time, so as to stir up whatever sediment may be in the pipe ; then a tall glass cylinder is filled, and a watch-glass attached to a piece of platinum wire, by which it can be raised, is let down to the bottom of the vessel. The whole lightly covered is put aside for 24 hours to allow it to settle, and after this the water is siphoned off almost down to the watch-glass, which can then be raised without disturbing the sediment which it contains. This latter method possesses the advantage that the same quantity of water is always taken, and thus the amounts of sediment at different times can be compared ; while it is almost impossible to fix a tap to run continu- ously at a given rate, owing mainly to variation in the pressure of the water in the pipes. A little of the sediment obtained in eithei* of these ways was transferred by a pipette to a slide, and examined with a Hartnack Objective No. 8 and No. 4 Eyepiece. This combination has a magnifying power quite high enough for diagnosing the most of the forms; though on one or two occasions a No. 10 Immersion was used. The actual amount of suspended matter present in any definite quantity of the water varies very considerably, and depends npon several conditions, among which some of the most noticeable ai*e the season of the year, the amount being greater in winter and spring than at any other time; the prevalence of stormy weather; the (quarter of the city from which the water is taken ; and the tap itself; for, if the water be drawn from a pipe which is seldom used, it is sure to contain moi-e sediment than that from one in constant use, as it settles when allowed to rest for some time. There is no doubt also that organisms are often found in the mains which are not found in water taken directly from the lake. This, together with the fact that the number of individuals of some species is greater in the water of the mains than in that of the lake, may be explained on the supposition that the former habitat affords them a better food- supply, consequently they multiply more rapidly. Tne exclusion of light also seems favorable to the development of certain forms. Another marked result of these investigations has been the conclu- sion, that many of the forms seem to have a preference for certain times of the year, being much more abundant then than at any other BIOLOGICAL .^TUDY OF TAP WATER. time ; but the exact harvest time of each particular form has not been accurately determined, since the observations have not been sufficiently close. For the same reason, although the comparative frequency of most of the forms met with can be indicated gene- rally, their relative al)undance or scarcity at any particular time cannot be stated with any degree of accuracy. To the foregoing general reniax-ks is now added an enumeration of the different organic species which from time to time I have found in the tap water of the School of Practical Science, with brief notes on some of the more interesting forms, and a more detailed account of one or two which I believe to be hitherto undescribed. DlATOMACEAE. The Diatoma are noticed first because by far the greatest part of the sediment consists of them, and because in the number of species they greatly exceed any other group. The diagnosis of species unless one is a specialist in this department of microscopy, is not a very easy matter, especially if the literature to which one has access is not very extensive. Accordingly a slide was prepared and sent to Prof. H. L. Smith, of Hobart College, Geneva, N. Y., who kindly named the following species : — Melosira Crotonensis, Tabellaria/enestrata, Cydotella Kutzinginna^ Cyc. operculata, Ci/c. astrea (a variety of Btephanodiscus Niivgarae), Stepluinodiscus Niagarae, Fragillc ia Crotonensis, Frag. Gregoryana ( = Dimeregramma Grunow), Frag. Capiicina, Synedra radians, Synedra longissima, Synedra ulna, Cocconema parvvlum, Coc. cymbi- forme, Coc. gibbum, Cymbella dicephala, Navicula radiosa, Nav. carassius, Nav. Rheinhardtii, Nav. Saugerii, Nav. cryptocephala, Nitzschia lineata, Surirella pinnata, Sur. lineata, Cocconeis Thwaitsii, Coc. placentula, Cymatople^ira ( Sphinctocystia ) solea, Pleurosigma Spencerii, Gomphonema teneUum, Gomph. acuminatum, Gomph. con- strictum, Gomph. sp. f Amphiprora omata, Odontidium mutabile, and EncyonemM caespitosum. In addition to the above the following have also been noticed : — Tdbellaria Jlocculoaa, Aaterionella /ormosa, Meridian conatrictum, Actynocyctus Ni^tgarae, Nitzachia aigmoidea, Tryblionella gra^lia, Epithemia turgida, Cymatopleura (Sphinctocyatui) ellipticay Eunotia r) didyma, Meloaira vmiana, and Meloaira dentata, n. ap.^ with charac- ter§ ai; fQUowoint to the fact of the connection at one period of the great lakes with the ocean, and the survival of a few marine or brackish forms, which have been able to accommodate themselves to the altered conditions of their habitat. Desmidiaceae. Desmids as far as at present known are all inhabitants of fresh water, and, as stated by Wood in his " Fresh Water Algati," prefer " that which is pure and limpid." They have been found in stagnant water, but never in that actually putrid. Next to the Diatoms they are the commonest vegetable forms to be found in the filterings from our water supply, and they seem to be most plentiful in the latter part of winter and during spring. The commonest i-epresentatives of this family are several species of Closterium, some of which I have not been able to determine. In every gathering are to be found considerable numbers of a form which is figured by C. M. Vorce in a pap€ r on the " Microscopic Forms observed in the water of Lake Erie," and called by him Clos. Venus, but which is much smaller than the form described by Wood under this name, the diameter as a general rule being not more, and often less, than 0-0031 mm. ( = 0-00015"). In shape they vary BIOLOGICAL STUDY OF TAP WATER. 7 considerably, being more or less Innately curved, semi-circular, bent into a loose spiral, or sometimes resembling very much a pair of cow's horns ; extremities greatly attenuated. On one or two occasions a larger form was observed, which agreed very closely in characters with these smaller ones. The frond was Innately curved, varying to sigmoid or spiral ; distance between the extremities about 30 times the breadth ; upper margin very convex, lower very concave ; no central inflation ; tapering gradually to an acute point at the extremities ; contents granular. Diam. 00038 mm. ( = 0000155"). Habitat, Lake Ontario, Fig. 2. • In one gathering a fine living specimen was noticed which in most of its characters seemed to approach more nearly to Clos. parvuluvi, Naegl., than any other, though in some respects it resem- bled Clo3. Veniis as described by Wood. In size however it dl-Tered from both of these. The diameter was found to be 0"0186 mm. ( = 0"00074"), and the length about 8 times as much. The measure- ments given by Rabenhorst for Clos. parmUum are diam. max. 0-00026"~000062", and length 6-8 times as much ; and according to Wood the diameter of forms referred by him to this species is 0-0008". Clos. Venus has a diameter of 0-0004", and is 8-12 times longer than broad. The general appearance of the form was very similar to that of Clos. parvulum as figured by Wood, and as the actual size of any species can hardly be regarded as fixed within narrow limits, it has been referred to Clos. parvulum. Another interesting form which is nearly always present approaches in some respects the description of Clos. setaceum, but is not accurately described in any work at my command ; accordingly I propose for it the name Cloo. Jiliforme, with specific characters as follows : — Closterium Jiliforme, n. sp. Frond very slender, greatly elongated, each extremity being a colourless beak as long, or nearly as long, as the body; filiform, cylindrical, smooth, not Innately curved, belly not inflated, gradually attenuated towards the apices, which are rounded and slightly curved downwards ; vacuoles 3-8 in each limb in a single series. Breadth 0.0062 mm- ( = 0*00025"), length 0-4154 mm.— 0-62 mm. ( = 0-0166"— 0-025"), or say 60-100 times the breadth. Habitat, Lake Ontario, Fig. 3. Clos. Grijjithsii has also been observed. Other Desmids were Staurastrum gracile, Staur. punctulatum, and a species of Coama/riu/m, probably Cos. cucumis. 8 BIOLOGICAL STUDY OP TAP WATER. Other Chlorophyllaceous Algae present were Protoaoccua *p. f Chlorococciis ap. ? diam. of cell itself being 0-0176 mm., and of cell together with its hyaline coat 0*0264 mm. Ankiatrodeamua (^Rha/phidium) /alcatua, Scenedetmvs quddriccmda, Pediaatrum ap. 9 Pediaairum Boryanum. The forms included in this latter species vary somewhat from the description given by Rabenhorst and Archer. The coenobium is circular in outline, cells in a single stratum, arranged in three rows round a central cell (1+4+10 15); inner cells variable, 4—6 angled, concave at one side ; periph« ;ell8 convex on the inner side, on the outer side notched and tape: into two long subulate points. Diam. of peripheral cells 0065 mm. ( = about oW)- I have also seen another species of Pe<.liaatrum which is not described in any work to which I have had access. The cells are in a single stratum, and in two rows round a central cell (1 + 6 + 12) ; inner cells polyhedral, 4-6 angled ; peripheral cells pentagonal ; external angle produced into a single process about as long as the diameter of the cell. Diam. of coenobium 0-0434 mm. ( = 000173"), and of peripheral cells 0-0124 mm. ( = 0-0005"). Spirogyra sp. ? Sterile joints 10 times as long as broad ; spiral single with 4 turns ; cell wall at each end produced. Diam. 0*0124 mm. ( = 0-0005"). Fertile joints not observed. Phycochromaceae. Belonging to the Phycochroms there were a few forms observdd, viz. : — Gleocapsa sparsa, which is probably only a zooglaea stage of Sirosiphon ; Meriamopedia nova (ap. f) ; and at least two species of Oadllaria, which have been referred to Oa. nigra, Vauch, and Oa. chlorina, Kiitzing, the former being quite common during the month of March, more so probably than at any other time. ECHTZOPHYTAE. Under the name Schizophytes are included all the organisms com- monly known as Bacteria, together with a few parallel green forms, multiplying chiefly by transverse fission, though in some cases cpores are formed. These organisms at best have but a doubtful reputation ; and if Intermittent and other malarial fevers, Anthrax, Diphtheria, Septicaemia, Pyaemia, Tubercle, and other virulent contagious dis- BIO^OCUCAL STUDY OF TAP WATER. eases are produced directly by these forms, it is quite proper that we shouhl be very careful that the water we drink is free from tliem if possible. If we look for natural water however which is absolutely free from Bacteria, probably we shall look in vain. But we must remember that all forms of Bacteria are not capable of ])roducing disease, even if some are, or at any rate that they do not do so under ordinary circumstances, but only in particular and well-marked con- ditions of the organism or organ attacked by them. Wo must not be surprised then to find Bacteria in our water supply. I have observed even v\ fresh filterings all the common forms, micrococci, rod-like forms, vibi-ios, sjural forms, and zooglaea stages. But if the filterings be allowed to stand exposed to the aii* for a few hours, it is amazing how rapidly they increase in numbera, and after a day or two the whole becomes converted into one mass of Encteria in all stages, growing at the expense of the other organisms, and evontually leaving nothing but the siliceous fru5;tules of Diatoms, and whatever other matter like this defies their digestive power. Probably there is no place where they thrive better, and where they exist in greater numbers, than in the School of Practical Science ; for they are certain to be found there in 'everything which is not positively destructive to them. There is no doubt then that their pi*esouce in such abundance in sediment which has been allowed to stand for some time exposed may be in great measure accounted for by germs getting into it from the atmosphere, as well as those already there multiplying. Adopting the view held by Billroth, Nagoli, Cienkowski, Ray .jaukester, and Zopf, that all the forms usually described under the generic names Micrococcus, Bacterium, Bacillus, Leptothrix, Clado- thrix. Vibrio, Spirillum, Spirochaete, &c., are only development stages of Schizophytes, in opposition to that of Cohn and others, that they are distinct species without morphogenetic connection, all the forms observed have been referred to the two species, Cladothrix dichotoma, Cohn, and Beggiatoa alba, Vauch. Concei'ning the first of these two Zopf re-narks, that " what the common bread mould (Penicillium crustaceum) is among the aerial mould fungi, C. dichotoma is among the aquatic fungi, and therefore it might be quite properly denominated the * water-fuugus ' (* Was- serpilz') par excellence." 10 BIOLOGICAL STUDY OF TAP WATER. There are Leptothrix forms besides the oi-dinary Cladothrix filaments, Avhich, by the breaking up of the threads, produne micro- cocci and rod-like forms. The cocci are circular in outline, and have a diameter equalling, or at most double, that of Micrococcus pro- digiosus, Cohn. In from 24 to 48 hours these micrococci develope into rod-like forms (Bacterium, Bacillus), which again give rise to Leptothrix, and by branching to Cladothrix filaments. These filaments are often rolled into a loose spiral, and these spirals give rise to Vibrios, Spirillum — and Spirochaete — forms. All the forms already mentioned may pass into a zoogiaea or resting stage. Beggiatoa alba goes through pretty much the same modifications. There are Leptothrix-like filaments of considerably larger size than those of Cladothrix dichotoma. Bacillus, Bacterium, and Micrococcus forms. Spiral forms are also developed, which however I have never seen in any of the sediment 1 examined, all the spiral forms noticed having been I'eferred to Cladothrix. In the study of these organisms it will be found of great advantage to stain them first with rose-aniline, or iodine. Before proceeding to enumerate the sjjecies belonging to the Animal Kingdom, a form must be described which I am puzzled to know where to locate. I have only noticed it occasionally ; and I am inclined to regard it as a Desmid. The body is spheroidal, in optical section broadly oval, surrounded by a firm cytioderm ; color, bright green ; chlorophyll, disposed in two lenticular masses ; vacuoles, four ; body surrounded by 7 — 9 (?) stiff, colorless, more or less cui-ved bristles (setae), coming off radially, and 3 — 5 times the long diameter of the body in length. Three individuals gave the following measurements : — Diam. (1). 0-0093 mm. by 0.0124 mm. (2). 0-01142 mm. by 0-01428 mm. (3). 0-0121 mm. by 0-0154 mm. Habitat, Lake Ontario. Fig. 4. Wood describes a globular form of Scenedesmus with radiating bristles, to which the organism above described is possibly allied. In addition to the foregoing species the vegetable kingdom is represented by starch grains, spores of fungi, and occasionally some remains of the higher plants, such as pollen grains, cuticle of aquatic plants, woody fibre, ifec. biological study of tap water. . 11 Protozoa. The animal forms belong mostly to the Protozoa, being nearly all included in the groups Rhizopoda and Flagellate Infusoria. f Bhizopoda. — Among the Rhizopods were noticed at least two species of Amoeba — .1. proteua and A. radiosa, but not very fre- quently ; on several occasions also Difflaijia glohuloaa, Actinophryg sol, and Acanthocjjstis turf area (sp T). Fhtrjdlata — Belonging to tlie Flagellata Infusoria there are a few intere.sting forms, some of which I shall notice in detail. Monas lens is occasionally seen, but by far tlie commonest species is Dinohryon sertidaria, and a brief description of this beaut^'ful animalcule will not be out of place. In the spring and early summer they are to be found in large numbers in every filtering, but in autumn and through the winter they are I'ai-ely met with. In the classification adopted V)y W. Saville Kent, in his " Manual of the Infusoria," they are jilaced in the Order Flaf/ellata Eustomata, and Family Chrysomonadidae. The characters of the order are as follows : " Animalcules possessing one or more flagelliform appei'd- ages. but no locomotive organs in the form of cilia ; a distinct oral aperture or cytostome invariably developed ; multiplying by longi- tudinal or transverse fission, or by subdivision of the whole or part of the body -substance into sporular elements ;" and of the family : " Animalcules bi-flagellate, rarely mono-flagellate, social or solitary, free-swimming or adherent, naked, loricate, or immersed within a common mucilaginous matrix or zoocytium ; endoplasm always con- tain '.ng two lateral, occasionally gi'een, but more usually olive-brown or yellow differentiated pigment bands ; one or more supplementary eye-like pigment spots frequently present," and, as far as at present known, they all inhabit fresh water. The geixus Dinohryon consists of animalcules with two fiagella, one considerably longer than the other ; attached by a contractile ligament to the bottom of a colorless horny lorica, the individual loricae being connected together so as to form a colony or compound bi'anching polythecium ; endoplasm containing two lateral green bands, and a consjjicuous eye-like pigment spot situated anteriorly. In the species D. sertularia Ehr. the individual loricae are per- fectly hygaline and transparent, and are shaped in general like an i 12 BIOLOGICAL STUDY OF TAP WATER. inverted cone, though they are seldom seen perfectly symmetrical, but usually more or less twisted and deformed, especially at the posterior end ; the mouth is everted, and below this anterior rim there is a slight constriction, then a slight expansion, below which it tapers to the posterior pointed end ; they are joined into colonies by the posterior end of one lorica being attached to the interior face of the rim of the one immediately below it, without any intermediate pedicle ; very often the ends of two loricae are inserted into one, and this produces dichotomy. Empty loricae like this are found in large numbers, either connected or floating free during the time of the year already mentioned ; but in many cases the zooid itself is to be seen attached by its delicate transparent ligament to the bottom of the lorica, and rarely exserted. In sha})e the zooids are elongate- oval, with the two flagella coming off quite close together from the anterior end, and on a little lip-like projection is situated the reddish eye-spot. According to Stein, the oral aperture is close beside the point of insertion of the two flagella. By the aid of these flagella they propel themselves rapidly through the water with a rolling motion, and as they sail across the field of the microscope, with their shapely loricae, oval green bodies, r«d eye-spots, and rapidly vibrat- ing flagella, they present one of the most beautiful objects to be seen in the miscroscopic world. The length of the separate loricae as given by Kent is TiSan'j i^nd of the contained zooid ^xsn" ', but these measurements have always been found too small. The average length of the lorica is 0033 mm. (- 0'0013") and of the contained zoid 0-0132 mm. — 0-0176 ( = 0-000528" — 0-0007"). On one occasion two separate zooids were seen in one lorica, one in the usual position at the lower end, and the other just at the mouth partly extruded. This most probably was the result of fission, and the newly formed zooid had not yet secreted its protect- ing calyx. The spheroidal encystments recorded by Biitschli and Stein have also been observed. They are to be seen at the mouths of otherwise empty loricae, and also floating free. They are of a yellowish-brown colour, and consist of an outer dense cuticular cyst enclosing a smaller more or less eccentric one with protoplasmic contents. . No eye-spot was observable. At one point on the outer capsule there is a little conical protuberance standing out prominently from the rest BIOLOGICAL STUDY OF TAP WATER. 13 of the circumference, and on the opposite side of the inner c}^ u thei-e ia a similar projection. Stein figui-es these as occurring about the same place on both cysts, but in all that I observed they were on opposite sides, and on the outer cyst there was only one. The diameter of the outer cyst in several instances was found to be about 0.0155 mm,, and through the protuberance 0.0217 mm. ; and of the inner 0.0124 mm. Figs. 5, 6. Dinobryon stijntatum, Stein, was also present once or twice. This species diflters from the one just described in the greater proportionate length of the loricae, which are trumpet-shaped, widest at the mouth, and tapering off into the acuminately pointed posterior end, being about 7 or 8 times as long as their greatest breadth. The zooids very much resemble those of D. sertularia, but are more elongated, and occupy the anterior half of the lorica, being attached by a thread-like ligament to its lower side wall. A large amylaceous more or less spheroidal body is situated near the posterior part of the endoplasm. The length of the lorica according to Kent is ^mr". Two or three other species of Flagellata have also been seen, though rarely. One, belonging to the Choano-Flagellnta, i.e., monads with a collar surrounding the single flagellum, I have referred to Salpingoeca fusi/ormis, Kent. Kent gives the following characters for this species : " Lorica sessile, sub-fusiform, or vase-shaped, widest cen- trally, tapering equally towai'ds the two extremities, but expanding again anteriorly into a somewhat prolonged and everted neck ; con- tained animalcule flask-shaped as in S. amphoridium, J. Clark, but of larger size. Length of lorica rsm'- Hab., fresh water, solitary." This form was seen only on one occasion, attached to a frond of Rhizosolenia Eriensis. The lorica was empty and corresponded closely with the above description. In another part of the field however I found what probably was the zooid of this species which had l)een set free, though it is possible that it might hnve been Monosiga socialis, Kent, with the description of which it closely agreed. The body was somewhat pyriform, widest posteriorly, with no pedicle ; a single long flagellum surrounded by a collar. Length of the body 0-0062 mm. ( = j^W), breadth 0-00465 mm. ( = znixyrs"). On one occasion I got a glimpse of a colony which I think belonged to the family Codonosigidae of this order. Unfortunately I lost 14 BIOLOGICAL STUDY OF TAP WATEK. sight of it, and nevei- svicceeded in finding any of the same kind again. It was prol)ably a sjjecies of Anterosiga, in which the monads are arranged in a stellate fashion. A nother form has been doubtfully referred to the Flmjellata-Pantos- tomala, family Bikoecidae, which includes sedentary animalcules with an anterior lip-like prominence, either solitary or in colonies, secreting separate horny loricae, mostly stalked ; flagella two, one long arid one short ; no distinct oral apei"ture. In certain of its "laracters this form resembled Bicosoeca lacustria, J. Clark, and in others Stylobryon jietiolatuni, Duj, sp., while in general appearance it was very like a large Dinobryon. I was unable to make out whether tliere was a distinct oral aperture or not. The individuals as far as observed were solitary, and cliai'acterized as follows : — Lorica sub-cylindrical, a little more than twice as long as its gi-eatest bi-fadth, with a pedicle of about equal length, widest posteriorly, slightly everted anteriorly, tapering towards and conically pointed at the posterior extremity ; z^oid broadly ovate, plastic, with an anterior lip-like prominence, occiii)ying the posterior half of the lorica, to the bottom of which it is attached by a contractile thread-like liga- ment on which it rotate ■ flagella two in number, one long and one short, inserted at the ba.^. of the lip-like prominence ; endoplasm containing two lateral greenish-yellow bands, and a reddish cvp '-pot situated anteriorly at the base of the lip-like projection ; contractile esicle single, located posteriorly. Length of the lorica 0-03141 mm. (= s^"), and of the contained zooid O'OITl mm. (= ^^VW)- Hab., fresh water, Lake Ontario. Fig. 7. Kent regards Stylohrjion petiolatum as undoubtedly a comj^ound modification of Bicosoeca laciistrh, and possibly the form above described is a variety of the same species, considerably larger than the one described by H. James-Clark, if it is not a species of Dinohryon. The Cilio-Flayellata are represented by a species of PerUineum not determined. Infusoria Ciliata. — Belonging to the Ciliated Infusoria there is a large species of Vorticella frequently seen, either attached or free- swimming ; Stentor is rare ; also a few Holotrichoas and Hypotrich- 0U8 forms, free and encysted are to be found occasionally. biological study of tap watek. 15 Metazoa. Tlie other animal forms which have been noticed are not very numerous. Vermes.— The worms are represented by the Nematoid AnguUlula fluviatUis, which is not very common ; and by one or two species of Hoti/tya belonging to the family Brachionidae, in which there is a carapace and one or more eye-spots. These are Anuraea stipitata, Is ' and another species with the back of the carapace ornamented with facets, as ^^e\l as furnished with teetli in front. A species of the genus Brackionus itself has also been observed. Arthropod A.— The Crustacea are represented by at least two species, Cijclops quadricomus and Daphnia jmlex, or a nearly allied form. (Jyclops especially is common both in the adult and larval stages, Pelonging to the Tardigrada I have noticed a species of Mocrohi- oUis rarely present, probably 21. Hu/elandii. Epithelial cells, bristles of Crustacea and insects and other frag- ments are. to be found among the debris which is always present in considerable quantity, and which is generally described as " flocculent matter." It consists mainly of broken Diatom frustules, as a good deal of it remains after boiling in nitric acid, partly also of decom- posed organic matter in a fiue state of division, as well as a small quantity of mineral matter. The bearing which the foregoing observations have on the question of the purity of Toronto's water supply may now be briefly alluded to. Judging from the miscrosc(jpical examination of the suspended matter in the water, I would characterize it as one of the purest of natural waters, inasmuch as it is almost entirely free from any organisms which are either themselves directly injurious, or whicli, by their presence, would show that water containing them mu.st necessarily be injurious. The great bulk of the sediment consists of vegetable matter, and that in a living condition. The animal forms are chiefly Flagellate Infusoria, which are inhabitants of fresh water, not depending for their food on dead, decaying, and poisonous matter. The absolute amount of sediment in the water I cannot accurately state; but the chemical analyses show the amount of albuminoid ammonia to be very small (averaging -003— -007 grr.ir.s per gal.); 16 BIOLOGICAL STUDY OP TAP WATER. and I have found it necessary to run the tap a considerable time to collect any appreciable quantity. As alreidy stated, ray investigations have been confined to the tap water in the School of i>ractical Sc-«nce; and, while admitting that other taps in different parts of the city would probably give different results as to quantity, yet I think the quality would be found to be practically the same. April 7th, 1888. EXPLANATION OP THE FIGURES IN PLATE. Fig. l.~Meloaira dehtata, n. sp., filament of 4 frustules. Fig. 2. — Cloaterium, sp. ? Fio. 3.~Clo8. filiforme, n. sp. Fig. 4.— Unknown foiro— probably a Desmid. Figs. 5, 6.— Encysted forms of Dinobryon sertularia, Ehr. Pig. 7.— Flagellate Infusorian allied to Bkosoeca lacustris, J. Clark, and Stylobryon petiolatum, Duj. ; e, eye-spot ; cv, contractile vacuole; lb, lateral bands. m le time to ed to the admitting ably give would be rE. /^ S) lark, and i vacuole ;