88 



Annals of the Transvaal Museum. 



ORNITHODOROS TALAJE, var. CAPEN8IS, NEUMAXN. 



O. talajc ((Tiieriii-Meneville), var. capensis. Neinnaiiii. 



lUafc /, figures /•, s; Plate III, figures a to e. 



Adult. — Bodij elongate and narrow with lateral borders, straight 

 or almost straight, parallel, contracted at the anterior extremity into 

 a rounded point, almost straight, or slightly convex on the posterior 

 l)order and joined to the lateral borders by rounded angles ; dirty 

 yellow when young, brownish to bluish ])lack when replete. Dorsdi 

 surface (III, a) margined by a wide raised l)order (not so prominent 

 when fully engorged), similar to the rest of the integument, and 

 forming on the anterior end a deep median V-shaped fold ; the 

 remainder of the dorsal surface excavated or undulating, with usually 

 an anterior elevation, corresponding to the rostrum; on this elevation, 

 four smooth symmetrical depressions, numerous depressions within 

 the marginal border, surrounding this elevation in a circle. In the 

 posterior half a median line of smooth depressions extending from 

 posterior border anteriorly about one-quarter of the length of the 

 body. A short distance from the anterior end of this median line is a 

 single large depression, with two large depressions on each side of it, 

 near the lateral margins ; extending posteriorly from the two posterior 

 of these depressions is a line of nits, similar to the median, but curved 

 inward, and close to and following the lateral margin. (Jn the ventral 

 surface {III, h) a pre-anal groove not very deep, almost straight, 

 ceasing at the coxal folds; a post-anal groove composed of a transverse 

 fold, straight, or a little curved anteriorly or posteriorly, very near 

 the posterior border, a large circular depression at each extremity ; an 

 anal groove, ceasing at the post-anal groove, its depth occupied by 

 smooth depressions resembling those on the dorsal surface ; sub-coxal 

 and coxal folds well marked, the sub-coxal ceasing at the coxal 

 grooves which pass anteriorly between the coxae of the first and the- 

 second pair of legs, which they separate ; posteriorly they extend 

 l)ehind coxae TV toward the lateral margin. Stigmata on the dorsal 

 surface of the sub-coxal folds, the stignial opening almost longi- 

 tudinal, semi-lunate. Anal ring almost as wide as long, anal opening 

 provided with two or four spines on each valve. Genital pore opposite 

 posterior margin of coxae I ; female pore long and narrow, that of 

 male short and wide. No eyes, but two swellings on margin above 

 legs I and II without any eye-like spots. Integument thin, with 

 hemispherical granulations, shining, contiguous, almost equal in size,, 

 forming by their uniformity a network of meshes limited by folds, 

 the centres of which bear one to four very short claviform hairs, with 

 wide bases. Rostrum elongate lodged in a deep cavity, with lateral 

 borders very well developed in the form of cheeks like an inverted 

 V-shaped hood, which can fall down and protect it; base of rostrum 

 wider than long, with sides convex, and several long hairs near lateral 

 margins ; set on a narrow base, the integument of which is finely 

 honeycombed and wrinkled crossw^ise, this base allows the rostrum 

 to be inclined forward and to be retracted ; manflihles (HI , e) with 

 digit large and thick, inner apophysis close to the base, as wide as- 

 long, provided with three equal teeth pointing backward, outer 

 apophysis tridentate, with posterior tooth stronger, provided at its 

 base with an additional denticle, anterior tooth very small ; 



