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On an undescribed Species of Chelifer. 

 By Pv. T. Lewis, F.RM.S. 



iRead Nirvemher 2Ut, 1902.) 

 Plate 25. 



On October 25th, 1867, a paper was read at the Ordinary 

 Meeting of the Quekett Microscopical Club, by the late Mr. S. J. 

 Mclntire, " On Pseudoscorpiones," living specimens of which were 

 exhibited in illustration of the subject. The paper was printed 

 in the first number of the Journal of the Club, but unfortunately 

 was not illustrated. Dr. M. C. Cooke at the same meeting gave 

 a list of all the recorded species, particulars as to which he sub- 

 sequently embodied in a manuscript book now in the library of 

 the Club; and at the second soiree of the Club, on March 13th, 

 1868, Mr. Mclntire exhibited some living Chelifers. So far as I 

 remember these are the only occasions on which these creatures 

 have figured at our meetings. 



In November 1869 an illustrated paper, also from the pen of 

 Mr. Mclntire, appeared in " Science Gossip," in which he described 

 several species of Chelifer and the allied genus Obisiiwi. I 

 remember being much interested in these, and that I kept some 

 under observation for a considerable time, feeding them upon 

 mites and podurae, bat failing to add very much to what was 

 already known of their life history. 



During 1890, a correspondent in Natal sent me a small con- 

 signment of insects, and amongst the debris at the bottom of the 

 box I found a dried Chelifer, which proving a fine object under 

 the binocular microscope, I mounted in a cell for future observa- 

 tion. Other subjects of greater interest diverted attention, and 

 the specimen remained undisturbed in my cabinet until quite 

 recently, when, having found another, which was sent from the 

 same place and in the same way, I was greatly struck by the 

 beautiful manner in which its whole surface was sculptured, and I 

 endeavoured to get it identified. A reference to Dr. Cooke's 

 book, before mentioned, did not afford the information required, 

 although amongst the fifty-four species therein described seven 

 are stated to be African. An enquiry at the Natural History 

 Museum seemed more promising ; there were about a dozen 

 specimens of the same creature in their collection, all of which 

 were labelled as having come from Natal, but neither had any 

 name assigned, and Mr. Pocock, the curator of the Arachnida 

 Department, was of opinion that, though known, it had never yet 

 been either named or described. Assuming this to be so, he asked 



Journ. Q. M. C, Series IT.— No. 53. 34 



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