50 W. MILNE ON THE 



posteriorly. Gullet extremely short. Jaws quite abnormal. A 

 short tube from the mastax, dorsally, leads into a large stomach 

 mass. The foot is very stout, and tapers very little — possibly of 

 four segments. Toes four, sickle-shaped, exceptionally long, 

 each in its own large sheath. One large spur, dorsally placed ; 

 broad at the base, curving outwards slightly and then inwards 

 to a point. 



Antenna about as broad as long — with scrubby setae. There 

 is a large brain mass, situated above and behind the mastax, 

 branching off anteriorly into the antenna and forward, apparently 

 into the rostrum. Intestine large, and contractile vesicle not 

 very conspicuous. Foot glands are large. Size, l/120th inch. 



Monoceros falcatus is quite small and of a pale glaucous colour. 

 The most striking feature is the posterior of the foot, with its 

 four great sickle-shaped toes and the large spur ; looking, when 

 all planted downwards, as if supported on a banana-like bunch 

 of props. I should probably have overlooked the first specimen 

 had it not been for this odd appearance. The extended toes 

 and the spur are not unlike each other, and at first I thought there 

 were three spurs and two toes. They look altogether too big for 

 the animal, and give it a far from graceful appearance. The 

 spur and the extended toe are of about the same length, and equal 

 to about one-eighth of the out-stretched animal. When feeding 

 in the open, it may be seen with all four toes extended and planted 

 on the glass ; it has then a very peculiar appearance, as if resting 

 on four props or stilts ; and stranger still is the appearance when 

 it uses the spur as a fifth prop. It occasionally may be seen 

 balanced on the spur alone, but very rarely are the toes all with- 

 drawn at the same time ; two is the commonest number extended, 

 and these the two next the spur. The tip of the toe is very small, 

 and when it is withdrawn the sheath invaginates to about half its 

 length, when it reminds one of a cylindrical bag, or a suspended 

 knickerbocker leg, slightly longer than broad. It is a rather 

 grotesque sight to see the four great cylindrical bags pendant 

 alongside each other. The toe tips may usually be seen peeping 

 out in the middle. Occasionally a toe may be shot out with 

 great force. The toe muscles are exceedingly strong, and when 

 extended the whole is very taut and rigid. Each toe has its own 

 sheath, and can act independently of the others. When exserted, 

 the toes are planted well apart, and can be seen projecting outside 



