BDELLOID ROTIFERA OF SOUTH AFRICA. 77 



It is rather slow in its movements, and prefers to keep under 

 the rubbish, so that it is most difficult to find one when searching 

 for it. It is practically a matter of chance to find one, even when 

 one has got the moss containing it, as it is so small and generally 

 has rubbish adhering. Evidently there were very few in the 

 moss. 



It is of shuttle shape, but not slender. The rostrum is fairly 

 stout, with prominent setae under the double lamella. The rump 

 and foot are stout, but do not give a heavy appearance. On the 

 usual spur-segment there are four spurs of moderate length. The 

 upper two are broad at the base and narrow to sharp points, and 

 have an outside convex bend. Just below this pair, and a little 

 inside, are two other spurs, about the same length but narrower 

 at the base, gradually narrowing to sharp points, and straight. 

 This is the only example of a Bdelloid having four spurs on one 

 segment. 



The corona is slightly less wide than the fairly prominent 

 collar, and has an extremely narrow sulcus, and short pedicels. 

 The upper lip is rather a flat curve rising up in the middle into a 

 minute fleshy spike. 



Habitat. — Tree moss. Van Staaden's pass, Uitenhage district. 

 Rather rare. 



Genus MACROTRACHELA. 



Macrotrachela petulans sp. nov. 

 PI. 6, fig. 14. 



Specific Characters. — Of moderate size, but stoutly built. 

 Colour hyaline, with pellucid granules on trunk, not very close 

 together. Corona equal to collar, and sulcus to four-fifths of disc. 

 Upper lip rounded, bifid with gentle dent. There is a seta on 

 each wheel. Antenna stout, equal to one-third neck width. 

 Jaws squarish; teeth three, large and well apart. Stomach a 

 wide oval ; intestine very large, oval. Foot stout, short, of three 

 segments; last segment expanded into thick circular disc, 

 wider than ankle. Spurs very small, divergent, with wide inter- 

 space slightly convex. Size, l/90th inch. 



The most outstanding feature of this sturdy little animal is the 

 large, prominent, thick-walled, perfectly oval stomach. I have 



