HISTORICAL RESEARCH IN SOUTH AFRICA. 185 



and are investig^ators has also been indicated. But, more 

 researchers, more and more again, are wanted to aid in this work. 

 In the Cape Peninsula is preserved the treasury field of historical 

 documents, and there also are many of the historical monuments 

 and buildings which speak of the ages gone by and are so closely 

 connected with our early history. The material and oppor- 

 tunity are waiting for the researcher. No time should be lost 

 by those interested in this particular branch of study. When 

 the workers have got on with the task we shall look forward to 

 the day when our history will be world known, and we shall have 

 a historv written of which we will all be justly proud. 



SOME PARASITIC PROTOZOA FOUND IN SOUTH 

 AFRICA— II. 



BY 



H. B. Fantham, M.A. Cantab., D.Sc. Lond. 

 Professor of Zoology, University College, Johannesburg. 



(Abstract.) 



Read July lo, 1919. 



In continuation of the results of my investigation of the 

 Protozoa found in South African animals (S.A. Journal of 

 Science, Vol. XV. (1918), pp. 337-338), I wish to record the 

 occurrence of the following organisms, the accoimts given being 

 preliminary ones. The Protozoa found may be grouped accord- 

 ing to their systematic position. 



Sarcodina. — A species of Pcloniyxa, apparently P. palustris, 

 has been observed once in the freshly-shed faeces of a horse in 

 Johannesburg, and much larger specimens in the drainage from 

 the said horse's stables. Peloniyxa usually is regarded as non- 

 parasitic; Minchin calls it sapropelic. An attempt at habituation 

 to *' passenger " or partly parasitic life in the intestine of the 

 horse seems to have occurred here. The organism was very 

 slow moving, usually by means of a single pseudooodium, though 

 more than one may be present. The multinucleate body contained 

 food particles in small vacuoles, and was highly granular. Re- 

 fringent bodies were present. The nuclei were large, each showing 

 a dense karyosome, which practically filled the nucleus. 



Rhizomastigina. — This group is intermediate between the 

 Sarcodina and the Flagellata. A member of this transitional 

 group, or allied thereto, has been observed in a human vomit, 

 and has also been found in soil in Johannesburg. The long, 

 single flagellum is very active, and lashes freely for about two- 

 thirds of its length, the part near the body being relatively stiflf. 

 Three phases have been observed: (i) Active, mastigine. forms, 



