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XIV. — South African Hydrachnids (First Paper). — By SiG Thor, 



Cliristiania, Norioay. 



(Plates XVI.-XXI.) 



The study of the Water-mites {Hydrachnida) of South Africa had 

 been completely neglected until Dr. W. P. Purcell, six years ago, 

 collected some specimens, which Professor G. 0. Sars handed over 

 to me for determination, viz. : 1. Diplodontus despiciens (Miiller, 

 1776), 2. Limnesia undulata ? (Miiller, 1776), and 3. a new genus 

 and species, Capobates sarsi Sig Thor, 1898 (26, 27)." 



During the last few years Mr. Purcell and Mr. E. M. Lightfoot 

 collected a large number of Hydrachnids, especially from the 

 brack and fresh- water ponds of the Cape Peninsula, and they have 

 sent me the specimens for examination, the first results of which are 

 embodied in this paper. 



I have in all determined 16 species. Of these 10 are new to 

 science, 3 are well-known cosmopolitan species, while 1 was 

 previously described by me (27) from the Cape Flats, and 2 by 

 Dr. F. Koenike (20, 21, 22, 23) from Bast Africa and Madagascar. 



Some nymphs could not be identified with certainty, and are, 

 therefore, not recorded in this paper. 



I. Family EULAID^ Kramer, 1877 (13). 

 I. Gen. EULAIS Latreille, 1796 (3). 



1. EULAiS PURCELLI U, sp. 



Plates XVI., XVII., figs. 1-4. 



Length of body about 3-4 mm. 

 Width ,, ,, 2-5-3-5 mm. 



* The numbers in brackets after authors' names refer to the List of Literature 

 at the end of the paper. 



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