l895- No. 8. SOUTH-AFRICAN ENTOMOSTRACA. 9 



3. Daphnia propinqva,, G. O. Sars. n. sp. 

 (PI. 2, figs. 1—8.) 



Specific Characters. Carapace in female, seen laterally, oval in form, 

 dorsal margin more or less arcuate and spinulose in its posterior part only ; 

 spine of carapace rather small, and extending nearly in the longitudinal 

 axis of the body. Head not very large, slightly carinated, and, seen 

 laterall}^ evenly rounded in front, rostral projection terminating in a short, 

 deflexed point; seen from above subtriangular in outline, tapering in front 

 to an obtuse point; fornix moderately prominent, ^vithout any projecting 

 corner. Carapace in male, as usual, narrower, oblong, with the dorsal 

 margin straight, and the spine more elongated; head without any rostrum. 

 Eye rather large. Antennulae in female distinctly projecting, though im- 

 mobile; in male modified in the usual manner, flagellum a little shorter 

 than the stem. Tail in female with the usual dorsal lappets, in male 

 without any processes ; terminal part slighth^ tapering, anal denticles in 

 female from 12 to 14 on each side, and of equal size, terminal claws of 

 moderate length, spinulose at the base. Ephippium oval triangular blunted 

 in front, without any projecting strip, ampullae transverseh^ disposed. 

 Body in both sexes highh^ pellucid and almost colourless. Length of 

 adult female 1,80 mm., of male 0,90 mm. 



Remarks. The present species bears a considerable resemblance to 

 certain northern forms of Daphnia generally referred to D. piilcx, but 

 differs, among other characters, in the absence of any dorsal process to the 

 tail in the male. In the latter respect, it agrees with D. obtusa of Kurz, 

 where however, the spine of the carapace is quite obsolete, whereas in the 

 present species it is well defined, though in the female of rather small 

 size. The specific name refers to the alfinity of this form to the 2 above- 

 named northern species. 



Description of the female. 



Fully adult, ovigerous specimens do not exceed in length 1,80 mm., 

 and this form is accordingly very inferior in size to the 2 preceding "ones. 



Seen laterally (fig. i), the carapace exhibits a rather regular oval 

 form, the free edges of the valves being evenly curved throughout, and 

 the dorsal margin more or less arcuate, according to the degree of disten- 

 tion of the matrix with ova or embryos. The spine of the carapace 

 is rather small, though well defined, and in specimens with summer-eggs 

 extends nearly in the longitudinal axis of the body, whereas in those with 

 ephippium (see fig. 6) it occurs more dorsally. The posterior halves of 



