IIYnRACARINA 91 



(7) 4tli palp-segment : 



slender {degcncrata, consors) 



rather thick {variabilis, pseicdoriinosa, crcgiicnsis, taurica. liispanica, asiatic. suina- 



trensis) 

 thick {microstoma) 

 slender ( 5 ) or thick ( 9 ) {angulata) 



From the above it will be seen that especially the palpi vary considerably. We find all 

 stages from few to numerous bristles. It must be remembered, however, that it is often diffi- 

 cult not only to distinguish and to count exactly all the bristles, but especially to decide whether 

 a bristle is feathered or not, depending upon the point of observation, i.e., the position and 

 direction of the bristle. It is obvious, therefore, that not t0(j much stress must be laid upon 

 statements concerning the structure of the l)ristles. It must also be kept in mind that it is 

 quite an exception to find two specimens of the same species of an Eyiais, in which the position 

 and shape of the palp-bristles are exactly the same, at any rate in a limited collection. There 

 is no doubt, therefore, that most species are extremely variable and that it is inappropriate to 

 separate species by means of minute differences in the armament of the palpi, the right and 

 left of which are often differently shaped in the same specimen. Not seldom the eyebridge 

 is asymmetric or deformed, sometimes entirely wanting, and specimens having but one well- 

 developed eye-capsule also have been met with (Lundblad, 1929, Plate III, fig. 26). In one 

 of the specimens of degenerata, here figured, there is an unpaired extra bristle in the middle 

 of the ey bridge. 



The main feature in degenerata is the very short maxillary plate, by which the greater 

 part of the pharyn.x is laid bare. The maxillary plate is described as being coalesced with the 

 pharynx, without leaving any suture. However, in the specimens studied by me, there seems to 

 be a very fine, nearly invisible suture, which separates pharynx and maxillary plate from one 

 another. This suture runs not far away from the outer oral circle, so that anyhow the 

 maxillary plate is very short. 



In the specimens before me the projection, of 3rd palp-segment bears 13-14 bristles, the 

 inner side of 4th seginent 17-22, and the outer side 10-13. In the 3rd segment the specimens 

 thus come nearest to eregliensis, whereas the inner side of the 4th segment resembles that of 

 variabilis, consors, asiatica, or hispanica, the outer side that of taurica, hispanica, variabilis, 

 consors, degenerata, or eregliensis. In the female the numl^er of bristles on the inner side 

 of 4th palp-segment is somewhat higher than in the male, corresponding to the condition in 

 some other species of Eyiais (cf. Lundblad, 1929, concerning E. infnndibidifcra and E. dis- 

 creta). The oral disc is of medium size and the intercapsular bridge varies from narrow to 

 wide, in both cases being rather straight. 



The Kashmir specimens tlius present a remarkable intermixing of characters, making it 

 impossible to refer them to one of the "species" already described. This indicates, as far as 

 I can see, that there is no meaning in describing forms, separated by such slight differences 

 in number and situation of palp-bristles or in shape of intercapsular Ijridge, as distinct 

 species. Such a proceeding totally neglects the great variability prevailing in the genus 

 Eyiais. And I think it is not even worth while to give all the different forms the rank of 

 varieties, since it is obviously difficult to find another specime;i exactly satisfying the original 

 description in all structural details. Therefore, I regard the Kashmir specimens as being real 

 E. degenerata. 



