SOIL PROTOZOA IN SOUTH AFRICA. 379 



warm weather. It contained soil from the surface to nine inches 

 deep. Its reaction was feebly alkaline. The following Protozoa 

 were obtained in water culture: — 



Rhizopoda. — Amoeba proteus. 



Infusoria. — Cyclidium glaucoma 



Port Elizabeth. — Samples of soil were obtained from two 

 sites, namely, the Museum Gardens and St. George's Park, during 

 bright, warm weather. Their reactions were feebly acid. 



(i) The Museum Gardens specimen was collected on 5th May, 

 1921, at a depth of six inches from the surface. On culture it 

 yielded : — 



Rhizopoda. — Amoeba proteus, A. radiosa, Amoeba sp. 

 Heliozoa. — Actinophrys sol. 



Infusoria. — Paramoecmm aurelia, Cyclidium glaucoma, 

 (ii) The St. George's Park specimen was collected on 5th May, 

 1921, at a depth of three inches from the surface. It was relatively 

 uncultivated soil. On water culture it yielded: — 

 Rhizopoda. — Amoeba proteus, A. radiosa. 

 Iufusoria. — Oxytricha pellionella. 

 The two specimens of soil from Port Elizabeth are of interest 

 as showing difference of protozoal fauna in areas relatively near 

 to one another. 



Grahamstown. — The sample of soil was uncultivated Witberg 

 sand, under rough grass, and was taken at about a depth of one 

 foot from the surface. It was collected near the Albany Museum 

 on 21st September, in the afternoon, during slight rain. Its 

 reaction was feebly acid. In water culture the Protozoa were: — 

 Mastigophora. — Euglena oxyuris. 

 Infusoria. — Coleps hirtus, Paramoecium putrinum. 

 Grootfontein School of Agriculture, Middelburg-, C.P. — Two 

 samples of Red Karroo soil were obtained on 29th September, 

 namely, virgin Red Karroo and cultivated Red Karroo. Both 

 samples were taken at a depth of six inches, and were feebly 

 alkaline in reaction. The following Protozoa were obtained in 

 water culture: — 



(i) Virgin Red Karroo. 



Rhizopoda. — Amoeba Umax, Difflugia globulosa. 

 Mastigophora. — Oikomonas termo, Jiodo (Prova- 



zekia), terricola or parva, Euglena viridis. 

 Infusoria. — Lacrymaria olor. 

 (ii) Cultivated Red Karroo. 



Heliozoa. — ^4 ctinophrys sol. 



Mastigophora. — Oikomonas (Jforias) termo, Euglena 



viridis, Bodo (Prowazekia) parva. 

 Infusoria. — Lacrymaria olor, Golpoda steinii or 

 saprophila* Spirostomum ambiguum. 

 The difference in protozoal fauna between virgin and cultivated 

 Hed Karroo sandstone soils is noticeable. Variations in the genera 



"" The species could not be determined with certainty from our available 

 literature. 



