Some African Rotifers. By James Murray. 669 



segment (third cervical, or possibly first trunk-segment, as there is 

 some doubt as to homologies). These processes are not free at the 

 points, but they stand further from the skin at the apices than at 

 the bases. 



Otherwise as the type. The skin is viscous and has adherent 

 matter, usually of a warm brown colour. The spurs are of the 

 normal size, and are stippled. Abundant. 



Madagascar. 



Five species of Bdelloida were obtained in moss from Mada- 

 gascar, which reached me early in April 1907. There were four 

 species of Callidina and one of Rotifer — the ubiquitous R. longi- 

 rosiris Janson. Very few examples were seen, but the time I was 

 able to give to the examination of this moss was very limited, or 

 much better results would probably have been obtained. 



Callidina angusticollis Murray (3). — Several cases, but no 

 living example. 



0. perforata Murray (J). — Two empty cases. 



G. multispinosa Thompson (7) var. brevispinosec var. n. — One 

 example. (For description, see paragraph on Old Calabar.) 



G. crenata Murray (3) var. nodosa Murray (-5). — One contracted 

 example. Previously known only from India, 



Rotifer longirosiris Janson {2). — Several contracted examples. 

 As they were not seen extended, it was impossible to tell whether 

 they were of the type, or of one of the tropical varieties. 



Remarks. 



This short list, of only a dozen forms, collected in widely 

 separated regions — all, however, situated within the tropics — has 

 several features of interest. 



The poverty of the list is no doubt clue to the small quantity of 

 moss available, and to the limited time which could be given to its 

 study. 



The lists show little local peculiarity. Only one species and 

 two varieties are considered to be distinct from all previously 

 described forms. Though only two forms are common to all three 

 regions, and five to two of the regions, all but two of them are 

 known in other lands. 



Four of the species (Rhilodina brycei, Callidina habita, C. 

 angusticollis, and Rotifer longirosiris) are among the most widely dis- 

 tributed Rotifers. Two species {Callidina eremita and C. longiceps), 

 though discovered in Britain, are rare there, and probably have 

 their headquarters in warmer climes. Six forms (C. perforata, 

 C. pinniger, C. multispinosa var. brevispinosa, Rotifer longirosiris 



