Chilton. — Description of a Species of Phreatoicus. 275 



the specimens being nearly 1 in. in length. Judging from Mr. 

 Sayce's experience in Australia, it is quite probable that other 

 forms are still to be found from the streams and fresh waters of 

 New Zealand, and I shall be grateful to any collectors who will 

 send me any shrimp-like creatures they may find under stones 

 or in moss in such situations. 



From the description given below it will be seen that the 

 species now to be described, though found in surface waters, 

 is a blind one, and that it is whitish in colour, in these respects 

 resembling the two subterranean species occurring in the under- 

 ground waters of the Canterbury Plains. 



Phreatoicus kirkii, sp. nov. 



Specific Diagnosis. — General appearance of the body and 

 appendages very similar to that of P. assimilis. Eyes not visible. 

 Body rather stout and compact, the segments of the pereion 

 fitting closely to one another ; pleura of the 2nd to 5th segments 

 of the pleon largely developed, fully as deep as their segments 

 and concealing the pleopoda, rounded below and with the inferior 

 margin and the lower part of the hind margin thickly fringed 

 with long setae ; 5th segment as long as the 3rd and 4th to- 

 gether ; inferior margin of the 6th segment with six curved 

 setae which increase in stoutness posteriorly, the last being very 

 stout ; the projection at the end of the last segment narrower 

 (as seen in side view) than in P. assimilis, longer than broad, 

 tipped with two or three stout setae and bearing also several 

 more slender ones ; below this the hind margin on each side 

 is irregularly convex, and bears numerous short setae of varying 

 degrees of stoutness. Surface of body with a fair number of 

 slender setae arranged singly or in small tufts, and becoming 

 more numerous posteriorly, especially on the last segment of 

 the pleon. Lower antennae scarcely half as long as the body; 

 flagellum of about twelve joints, not much longer than the 

 peduncle. Pereiopoda as in P. assimilis, rather short and very 

 spiny ; the 1st forming in the male a powerful subchelate claw 

 of the same general structure as in P. assimilis, but with the 

 anterior produced portion of the meros armed with one stout 

 seta and a few slender ones in place of the thick brush of fine 

 hairs found in P. assimilis ; 4th pereiopod of male shorter than 

 the 3rd and specially modified. In the female the 1st pereiopod 

 has the subchelate claw much smaller and like that described 

 for P. typicus, and the 4th pereiopod is similar to the 3rd. The 

 last three pairs of pereiopoda with the basa considerably ex- 

 panded. The mouth parts are practically the same as in P. 

 assimilis, the lower lip having the lobes rounded, and the inner 

 lobe of the first maxilla bearing only four plumose setae. 



