BDELLOID ROTIFERA OF SOUTH AFRICA. 155 



they being usually shy feeders, and one may chance on another 

 species next time when examining the field, as all are somewhat 

 alike while creeping. Besides their similarity in habits, all have 

 similar spurs, and the crinoline type of rump, either permanently 

 or to a certain degree when relaxed and sitting back on the foot. 

 M. plicata is the only one which has not got the unbroken front 

 margin of the upper lip, and which is not very shy in feeding. 

 The animal I take to be M. ehrenhergii has more segments than 

 eleven, but otherwise answers fairly well to the description (1). 

 The peculiar extensions of the rostral sheath or auricles described 

 by Janson are evidently part of the lamella, which appears 

 quadruple. The two inner folds were evidently taken by Janson 

 to be the whole lamella. M. flicatula as I found it had the pro- 

 jecting broad annulus on the posterior of the first segment of the 

 foot, and not on the second as given by Murray (6). 



Macrotrachela faveolata. 



PI. 10, figs. 5-5d. 



Specific Characters. — Of large size. Stomach investment deep 

 yellow. Antenna stout. Dental bulb roundish with thick 

 comb-like edges, bearing eight large teeth. Stout lumbar region 

 and foot. Spurs and upper lip somewhat like those of M. russeola. 

 Corona just wider than the collar. Sulcus slightly over half the 

 width of disc. The main ridges of the trunk bear large warts 

 or knobs, and there are small warts and dots all over the surface. 

 Size, about l/60th inch. 



I found this fine large species several years ago, but have 

 never met with it since. Mr. Murray also found it in some moss 

 I sent him from the same gathering in which I discovered it. 

 Unfortunately I have lost my notes on it, but from the sketches 

 I still have, and the sketches Murray sent me, and a few marginal 

 notes thereon, I am able to give sufficient data for purposes of 

 identification. 



It is in some particulars like M. russeola — in spurs, upper lip 

 and general build — but it has a most extraordinary peculiarity, 

 the possession of three kinds of processes ; very large warts or 

 knobs along the trunk ridges, from five to seven in each ; and 

 smaller sub-hemispherical warts and fine dots in extraordinary 

 numbers all over the surface. The large warts consist of a bundle 



JouRN. Q. M. C, Series II.— No. 79. 12 



