Some African Rotifers. By James Murray. 667 



There is a ventral necklet of hemispherical processes close under 

 the mouth, and close below this is a second necklet of sharp spines. 

 On the dorsal surface flf the trunk there are two transverse rows of 

 spicules, as in the type, and there are many small spines on the 

 rump and foot. Dental formula, 2/2 or 2 + 1/1 + 2. Length, creep- 

 ing, 250 /j,. 



The egg measures about 100 /a in length, and bears a number 

 of low rounded prominences, one of which coincides with the 

 anterior pole of the egg, as seen within the body of the parent 

 (plate XV. fig. 4). 



The variety is widely distributed, being known to occur in 

 India, British Guiana, Uganda, Madagascar, and Cape Colony. 



The species C. multispinosa is extremely variable. Even in 

 Britain there is much variety in the number, size, and arrange- 

 ment of the spines. In tropical and subtropical countries there is 

 a profusion of forms which can be grouped round C. multispinosa, 

 but some of which differ very markedly from the type. 



The most distinct of these are almost certainly of specific value, 

 but as there are many intermediate forms it seems well, pending 

 further study, to retain most of them as simple varieties. 



The variety brevispinosa appears to be pretty constant. The 

 reduction of the spines is not its sole distinction from the type. 

 The dorsal and anterior-lateral processes are fewer in number, 

 and the small spines and papillaa on the ventral surface more 

 numerous. 



Uganda. 



The moss from Uganda was more productive than either of the 

 others. Seven species were noted, and several varieties — one species 

 and two varieties being previously undescribed. 



Philodina br/jcci Weber (<s'). — The form found differed somewhat 

 from the type. There were ten spines in the chief dorsal transverse 

 row, one lateral spine at each side of the trunk, a little in front of 

 the end spines of the chief row, and on the same skinfolds as those 

 spines. The central anterior processes of the trunk (betweeu which 

 the antenna is held, as in a fork, when the animal is feeding) were 

 very small warts. The pair of processes on the fourth central 

 segment were reduced to small knobs. 



Callidina perforator Murray (J). — Only the case was seen. The 

 examples were typical. 



C. eremita Bryce (1). — Several examples. 



C. longiccpi Murray (.£). — Many cases with living animals, one 

 case with two examples. Dental formula, 5/5, 5/6, 6/6, and 7/6. 



C. hdbita Bryce (/). — Many living examples, quite typical. 



C. multispinosa Thompson (7) vox. brevispinosa var. n. — (See 

 paragraph on Old Calabar for description.) Several. 



2 Y 2 



