African Tardigrada. By J. Murraij. 141 



SOUTH AFRICA. 



The Water- bears were obtained among the mosses sent from 

 Cape Colony by Mr. Milne, from Pretoria by Mr. J. Hewitt, of tlie 

 Transvaal Museum, and from the Northern Transvaal by Mr. 

 Jenkyns, also of the Transvaal Museum. 



List of Species. 



Echiniscus africanus Murr. Macrohiotus oherhduseri J)oy. 



E. duboisi Eicht. var. M. arcticus Murr. 



Macrobiotus richtersii Murr. Di])liascon scoticum Murr. 



M. hitfelandioides Murr. 



Notes on the Species. 

 Echiniscus africanits Murr. (9). Plate VI, figs, la-lc. 



The original description appears to have been made from im- 

 mature examples — at any rate, no eggs have been seen. Larger 

 examples have since been found, which necessitates the amending 

 of the description. The differences are not serious, being merely 

 the possession of additional spines. There can be no doubt as to 

 the identity of the animals. 



Description of larger and doubtless more mature example. — 

 Length 200 yu, ; lateral processes : a, seta ; h, c, d, e, curved spines, 

 h finer than the others ; dorsal processes : six curved acicular spines, 

 in two groups, between the shoulder and first median plates : over 

 c and d two curved spines on each side, one near the median line. 

 Paired plates divided into three parts by curved lines, but dotted 

 all over. Dots large depressions, regular, median plate with distinct 

 posterior marginal row of subquadrate " cells." Second median 

 plate interrupted in middle line by narrow plain band. Inner claw 

 with small barb near the base. 



Thulin {19) has recently described a new species, -£'. lapponicus, 

 which is very close to E. africanus. The resemblance is closer 

 than was supposed, since the diagnosis has been broadened by the 

 finding of more mature examples. 



E. lapponicus has not the acicular processes between ii and 

 III ; the dots on the plates are described as clusters of smaller 

 dots ; the outer claws have straight barbs. The last character is 

 not important, as it is known that in other species possessing outer 

 barbs these only appear at one of the later moults. 



Habitat. — Woodbush, Transvaal ; coll. Mr. Jenkyns. 



