80 University of California Publications in Zoology [Vol. 20 



to the role of parasites or commensals of the termites and related 

 insects. This fact in itself would throw them outside the line of 

 evolution along which the present group of the presumably much 

 earlier evolved, free-living ciliates were developed. 



For these reasons we accept the allocation given by Grassi for 

 these peculiar organisnLS, placing them among the true flagellates and, 

 as shown by a study of the various stages of division as well as 

 morphology, not far removed from certain members of the Poly- 

 mastigina. 



The utilization of the order Hypermastigina, proposed by Grassi 

 (1911) for this group of flagellates possessing numerous flagella, is 

 more appropriate as a descriptive term than either Trichonjinphida 

 Poche or Lophomonadina Lankester. It is further desirable as at 

 once connoting its relation to the order Polymastigina near which 

 it stands in the Flagellata. 



For the family designation of the group to which Trichonymplm 

 belongs, we retain the term proposed by Kent (1882), Tricho- 

 nj^mphidae. The remaining constituent members of this family we 

 need not further specify at this time. 



The genus Trichonympha contains three species previously de- 

 scribed: T. agilis Leidy, from American termites; T. Leidyi Kent, 

 from Tasmanian termites ; and T. minor Grassi, from Italian termites. 

 No figures have been given for the last two species, the description 

 of both being imperfect without dimensions or other exact data. To 

 these we add a fourth species, T. campanula. 



Key to the Genus Trichonympha 



Hypermastigina with flagella of various lengths disposed over about two-thirds 

 of the surface of the body ; nucleus submedian ; specialized ectoplasm ; complex 

 neuromotor system; holozoic nutrition. 



1. Large, 250;n-460/i 2 



— Small, 100/i or less 3 



2. Flagella of three distinct lengths, posterior endoplasm not separated from 



anterior region by distinct line campanula sp. nov. 



3. Flagella short, almost cilia-like, elongate or pyriform body leidyi Kent 



— ■ Distinct line separating two regions of endoplasm, body constricted at the 



point of separation, cilia long agilis Leidy 



— • Small form, flagella short, lines separating two regions of endoplasm long, 

 crossing each other behind nucleus minor Grassi 



