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Fam. Dinocharidae.
Dinocharis tetractis Ehrenberg.
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I obtained a single representative of this species in a large swamp at the end of the Peebles Road, near the Waitaki River, on the 20th January, 1911. It differs slightly from Hudson and Gosse's drawing, as, in addition to the two large spurs, the first joint of the foot is covered with knobby projections. It is certainly not D. inornata- Hilgendorf, as the faceted lorica can be easily made out with careful lighting and a ¼ in. objective. Length, including foot, 1/83 in.
Brachionus pala Ehrenberg.
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The largest and most interesting Brachionus I have seen. First brought to my notice by Miss Lory. The long-lumbar-spine variety, B. amphiceros of Ehrenberg, has of late become quite common here between May and September. My New Zealand specimens measure from 1/50 in. to ⅓3 in. from toes to wreath. The amphiceros var., 1/88 in., including spines.
Brachionus bakeri Ehrenberg.
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Not common, by any means. Obtained once at Richmond's Crossing, and on another occasion at Weston, in October and February. Length of lorica, including spines, 1/110 in.
Brachionus angularis Gosse.
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Not common usually, but found recently in great numbers in a poud near Enfield, where it was associated with B. pala. Hudson and Gosse have remarked on the evident fancy those two species have for one another. Length from wreath to toes, 1/77 in.; lorica, 1/150 in.
![Thumbnail: [Volume 45, 1912 page 167]](/journals/rsnz/images/rsnz_45/thumbnails/rsnz_45_00_0183_0167_ac_02.gif)
Brachionus variabilis Hempel var. novae-zealandiae var. nov.
I am loath to suggest making another species of this Brachionus, as the list is already a long one, and there is good reason to believe that many of the so-called species are really only varieties. Slight differences in the form of the lorica are not sufficient grounds for specific isolation, particularly in a genus like Brachionus, where vagaries in length of spines are well known in the same species. B. pala and B. bakeri readily furnish examples of this; but in the Rotiferon now under consideration not only is the posterior end of the lorica entirely different in shape, but an elaborate renal system appears to have been developed. These organs are spread out right and left of the cloaca, and afford opportunities for study such as I do not remember to have met with before. The B. variabilis var. novae zealandiae. prolongation of the lorica seems to be the result of this enlarged renal system and the necessity for more Ventral view of lorica. space within the case. It is quite possible that this particular form has been already described. I have none of the more recent literature on the genus, and I am sending specimens Home for further examination.*
B. variabilis var. novae zealandiae.
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The capture was made in a small pond at Totara, where they were, in numbers, parasitic on Daphnia thomsoni, last October. Length from toes to wreath, 1/50 in.
Brachionus quadratus Rousselet.
The lorica closely approaches the one representing B. quadratus in the “Rotifera Supplement,” though not so angular in outline. The median anterior spines are not so long, and there is a curve instead of a middorsal spine at the foot of the opening; also, I have not been able to detect the “semi-jointe” foot. On the other hand, the honeycomb-like marking is very clear and distinct with dark-ground illumination and a ¼ in. objective; and this peculiar marking Rousselet has stated is characteristic of B. quadratus.
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Secured from a small stream at Palmerston South. I have come across it once in Oamaru, so that it is, comparatively speaking, rare so far. Length of lorica, nearly 1/100 in.
[Footnote] * Since writing the above I have heard from Mr. Rousselet, who states that this Rotiferon closely resembles Brachionus variabilis, described by A. Hempel in 1896, and found by him in the Illinois River, Quiver Lake, and Thompson's Lake, in America. The New Zealand variety has not got the square plate over the foot-opening which is conspicuous in the American species. B. variabilis has not been found in any other part of the world except in the two countries mentioned, which is remarkable. On Mr. Rousselet's advice, I have classed it as B. variabilis var. novae-zealandiae,