ARTICLE IX 



REPORT ON ROTATORIA 



By \V. T. Edmondson and G. E. EIutciiinson 



I. INTRODUCTION 



Tow-nettings and uther samples containing rotifers were obtained by the Yale North 

 India Expedition in fifty-two localities in the Punjab and Northwest Frontier Province (4), 

 the Kashmir basin (15 ), Indian Tibet and the extreme western part of Tibet proper (24) and 

 the Nilgiri Hills (9). From these collections we have succeeded in determining ninety-nine 

 species excluding a few doubtful forms. No new species were discovered, though it has been 

 necessary to bestow one specific and two varietal names. This paucity of new forms is prob- 

 ably due to the fact that the collections were made for the most part in alkaline waters 

 at moderate or low temperatures. The great number of new species recently obtained from 

 acid waters by Myers (1931-4) is well known; moreover it is probal)le that truly tropical 

 waters will be found to yield a number of remarkable new species when they are more 

 adecjuately known. At the same time as the work reported in this paper was in progress 

 one of us had the opportunity to examine a small collection from somewhat alkaline waters 

 at temperatures between 25.9-29.2°C. from the Island of Hispaniola, in which, though but 

 thirty-six forms were obtained, three of these represented very distinct new species 

 (Edmondson, 1934). 



In preparing this report we have had invaluable assistance from Mr. Frank J. Myers, 

 who has confirmed a number of doulitful identifications and placed his great knowledge of 

 the group at our disposal whenever difficulties have arisen. Mr. Elbert H. Ahlstrom has 

 most kindly examined our material of the genus Brachionus and his determinations have been 

 included in the lists of species. He has also made several useful comments on species of other 

 genera. Dr. J. Wiszniewski has most kindly studied our material of the very interesting 

 species that he has recently described as Pcdalia biilgarica Wiszn. To these investigators 

 our sincerest thanks are due. We are extremely grateful to Professor Alexander 

 Petrunkevitch and Professor George Vernadsky for translating various descriptions in 

 Russian and Polish. We are also indebted to Dr. E. D. Merrill and the staff of the New 

 York Botanical Garden for determinations of water plants. 



The types of the new forms described, and as far as possible a representative set of 

 slides of the known species encountered, will be deposited in the Peabody Museum of Natural 

 History of Yale University. ~ A second set of slides will be forwarded to Mr. M\'ers for 

 incorporatif)n in the collection of the American Museum of Natural History. 



II. LIST OF I.nCAI.ITTKS 



P. Localities in the Punjab and Nortlizvcst Frontier I'roinnce. 



P 2. Sohawa, Jhelum district, altitude c. 528 m. 



Large dam near village. Marginal vegetation chiefly a narrow-leaved Potaniogcton 



Mem. Conn. Acad., Vol. X, Art. EX. September, 1934. 



