THE TARDIGRADA OF THE FORTH VALLEY 215 



claws with strong decurved barbs, none on outer claws ; palp 

 on first leg. 



The species is very close to E. creplini, Schultze. The 

 chief differences are the fringe and the barbs of the inner 

 claws, and it is a question whether Schultze, in common with 

 all the earlier observers, did not overlook these structures. 

 The only other important distinction is the little spine on 

 anterior edge of the plates of the first pair. I have not seen 

 such a spine in any species. Schultze figures a separate anal 

 plate, a character possessed by many of Richters' species, but 

 I have seen no species having such a plate. Little importance 

 can, I think, be attached to this character, unless the animal 

 observed is full-grown and mature. 



Nether Habbie's Howe, Pentland Hills. 



Eckiniscus sp. ? Length y-^- inch, plates 9, granules moderate, 

 lateral setre 4, on head, first and second paired and lumbar 

 plates, longest setae on plates of first pair ; dorsal processes, a 

 weak spine on each plate of first pair ; a small tooth on each 

 plate of second pair ; fringe of short spines on last leg, inner 

 claws barbed. 



From Moss, Fullarton, Midlothian, November 1905. 



E. spitzbergensis, Scourfield. The form of Echiniscus referred to 

 this species in the previous paper differs from the type in 

 having the dorsal process on each plate of the second pair 

 elongate. The pattern on the plates, also, appears to consist 

 of flat discs with depressed or perforate centre, instead of 

 coarse granules. In both respects it closely resembles a 

 species found in Franz Josef Land. Further study is neces- 

 sary to determine whether that is distinct from E. spitzbergensis. 



Genus MACROBIOTUS. 



M. hufelandi, C. Sch. Malleny Dam, Fullarton ; form simplex, 

 near Doune and Ochils above Dollar. 



M. intermedius, Plate ? A species agreeing with this as to pharynx 

 and claws has been found at Duddingston, Upper Elf Loch, 

 and Pentland Hills, but without finding the characteristic egg 

 I would not be certain of the identification. 



M. echinogenitus, Richters. Upper Elf Loch on Braid Hills, 4th 

 November, adult and typical egg. Three varieties of eggs, 

 doubtfully referable to this extremely variable form, have also 

 been found; ist var., spines very long, straight, sharp, length 

 about equal to half the diameter of the body of the egg, Elf 

 Loch ; 2nd var., spines very small cones, closely set, but not 

 meeting at bases, Malleny Dam, near Balerno ; 3rd var., spines 



