Some South African Tardigrada. By J. Murray. 521- 



E. crassispinosus sp. n,, plate XYIII. figs. 10a, 106. 



Specific Characters. — Size, moderate. Plates, 9 : 2 median, 2 pairs, 

 V. and vi. united, 3-lobed. Dots of two kinds : large, distant, and 

 small, pellucid. Lateral processes, a long seta ; c, d, and e, short 

 spines. Dorsal processes, a broad flat spine on each plate of the 

 second pair, nearer the median line than the angle. Fringe of 

 blunt processes on the 4th leg. Blunt palp at base of 4th leg. 

 Small barbs on the inner claws of all legs. 



Length, 260 yu., exclusive of last legs. The four mouth-bristles 

 are small. The head setee or horns (a) are very long, and widely- 

 spreading, like the horns of Highland cattle. The double pattern 

 on the plates is like that of E. pcrarmatus — the larger dots look 

 like depressions, and the smaller like fine pellucid granules. The 

 larger dots are not in this species arranged in regular rows, but 

 scattered, more widely separated, and of unequal sizes. The colour 

 is red. 



The palp on the 4th leg is common to most species. The 

 claws are somewhat broad, and the minute decurved barbs are near 

 their bases. 



Cape Colony. Several examples. Though no eggs were seen, 

 the ainmal has too many peculiarities to be united with any known 

 species. 



Echiniscus sp., plate XVII. figs, la, lb. 



Description. — Small. Plates, 9 : 2 median, transversely sub- 

 divided. Lateral processes, a seta, c, d, e, short spines. Dorsal 

 processes, short curved spines on each plate of the pairs. Dots 

 very large and close. Fringe and barbs not seen. Colour, yellow. 

 Claws, four. 



Length 120-150 //,. Dots appear to be depressions, obscurely 

 polygonal, by reason of contiguity. 



Professor Eichters suggests that this may be the young of 

 E. quadrispinosus Piichters, with which the processes agree. The 

 pattern is, however, quite different, more regular, and closer, and 

 is not interrupted by bands as in that species. 



Very probably a distinct species, but as yet insufficiently 

 studied. 



Cape Colony. Two examples. 



Echiniscus sp., plate XVII. figs. 5a, oh. 



Small, pale red, finely dotted. Plates, 9 or 10 (3rd median 

 doubtful), arrangement normal. Lateral processes, a, h, c, d, e, all 

 incurved seta3. Dorsal process, a spine of moderate length over c. 

 Fringe of small acute teeth. Inner claws with small barbs. 

 Length 190 /i. Only one skin seen, without eggs. 



