South African Hydrachnids. 449 



the best characters for distinguishing this species from E. mega- 

 .lostoma Koen., and E. georgei Soar. The palps of E. purcelli are 

 long and thin, whereas those of E. megalostoma Koen., are short 

 and thick, this difference being most pronounced in the fourth and 

 fifth segments. The fifth (last) segment is very long and almost 

 cylindrical, and is narrow in the middle ; its distal end is not so 

 pointed, but is furnished with a greater number of small spines or 

 bristles, the segment possessing altogether about 24-30 spines. The 

 comparative lengths of the five segments may be seen from the 

 following measurements (in order from the first to the fifth segment) : 

 about 0-17 + 0-23 + 0-26 + 0-50 + 0-32 mm. The third segment has 

 only a small, inner, distal dilatation with 7 small spines. The 

 fourth segment possesses on the outer side (fig. 4) 8 spines and 

 2 feathered ones at the distal end, while on the inner side are 

 about 20 spines, viz. 10 in a row and 10 others, partly feathered. 



The epimera and the genital area (opening and hairs) are like those 

 of most of the species of the genus. 



Locality.— Vix. Purcell and Mr. Lightfoot collected 5 ex. (S. A. 

 Mus. Eeg. No. 9033) in fresh-water ponds near Eetreat Vlei, Cape 

 Plats, together with four other species (Oct., 1900). 



2. EuLAiS LIGHTFOOTI D. Sp. 



Plates XVI., XVII., figs. 5-8. 



Length of body about 3-4 mm. 



Width „ „ 2-5-3-5 mm. 



Length of maxillary palps I'l mm. 



This mite may be referred to the group of Eulais miilleri Koenike, 

 1897 (22), but it is very different from all the species known to me. 

 It is as large as E. purcclli n. sp. 



The colour, shape, epimera and legs do not differ much from 

 E. purcelli n. sp. 



Eyes.—Uhe eye-plates (fig. 5) are very regular, the eye-bridge being 

 almost uniformly semicircular, emarginated in the anterior and in 

 the posterior border and provided in the former with a small process 

 directed forwards (fig. 5, p). The hair-pores (fig. 5, h) are small and 

 situated far towards the sides in the punctuated capsules. 



Maxillary Organs. — The maxillary plate (fig. 6) is short, with the 

 ends of the posterior lateral processes (fig. 6, pp) much broadened. 

 The mouth-opening is as large as in E. megalostoma Keen., and 

 E. purcelli n. sp., and has a large oral fringe. The pharynx is 

 short but capacious. 



