BDELLOID EOTIFERA OF SOUTH AFRICA. 69 



Philodina nitida var. decens. 

 PL 5, fig. 10. 



This animal differs from the species in several points, but comes 

 sufficiently near in jaws, upper lip and spurs to be considered a 

 variety. 



It is of a very elegant shape when creeping. It is large and 

 stout, and has a heavy neck and fairly heavy rump. There is a 

 large brain mass with two large yellow eye-spots. 



The foot is short, and contains heavy glands. The spurs are in 

 shape like those of P. nitida, but symmetrically placed ; and of 

 the toes two are large, and the other two much smaller. The 

 rostrum is stout, and the double lamella, which is not very easily 

 seen, bears several stiff setae. The antenna is rather thin and 

 about one-half the neck width. 



The teeth are exactly like those of P. nitida, and the striae 

 are very large and easy to count — 10 behind the teeth. There 

 is a long tongue-shaped gland below the mastax. 



There is little distinction between the anal and pre- anal seg- 

 ments. The intestine is oval and very long. 



The corona is large and beautifully balanced ; and the propor- 

 tions of corona, collar and neck are to each other as 30, 20 and 

 15. The upper lip consists of two rounded lobes with a fair 

 interspace. The wheels are frequently screwed, or brought nearer 

 each other, causing serrations in the upper lip interspace. There 

 is a slight prominence bearing a seta on each wheel. 



The colour is faint pink and in some pale yellow. The pink 

 colour is little more than a tinge, but the changing shades are 

 wonderfully fine, as the animal doubles up and shows greater or 

 less depth of flesh at parts, especially in the dental segment. 

 Size, l/50th inch. 



Habitat, — Stellenbosch in ground moss. 



Philodina inopinata sp. nov. 



PI. 4, figs. 6-66. 



Specific Characters. — Of small size, with long narrow foot, 

 narrow cylindric trunk and stout neck. Antenna slightly 

 longer than neck width. Of a glaucous colour. Two eye-spots. 

 Teeth, three. Foot has five segments. Spurs of medium length, 



