1896. J Brolemann. — Lithobius variegatus, Leach. 13 



The following is to be observed in reference to the 

 Myriapods here mentioned : — 



Ceophllus proximus, C. Koch.— One specimen has very short 

 maxiUipedes, which, when closed, do not reach the point of the head. 

 Whether this is accidental or not, I have not been able to ascertain. 



Polydesmus complanatus, I^. — The males I examined belong to 

 the variety named angtislus by Dr. R. Latzel. 



Polydesmus gral ileus, Latzel. — The Irish specimens, though un- 

 mistakably belonging to Dr. Ivatzel's species, are much more narrow 

 than the type of the south of France, with which I have compared them, 

 the former measuring! a mm. to 2-20 mm., while the latter reach 280 

 mm. to 3 mm. 



lulus Orltannlcus, Verhoeff. — Certainly represents the form indi- 

 cated by Mr. Pocock under the name of luhts luscus, Meinert. 



lulus (Leptolulus), sp. incerta. — Having seen no male, I do not risk 

 a specific name for the female specimens of this form, owing to the diffi- 

 culty of recognizing the species of this group, even when males are at 

 hand. These probably belong to the same species which Mr. Pocock 

 has called by Newport's name, /. pilosus ; but as Newport's description 

 can equally well be applied almost to any of the species of the Leptoiulus 

 subgenus, his denomination has no meaning, and I find it unnecessary 

 to retain it. 



This paper, thus lacking in interest, would never have seen 

 light, had it not been for the opportunity offered to me to 

 examine specimens oi Lithobius variegatus-, I^each. 



Described for the first time in 1817 by I^each^ in a very 

 abbreviated way, the species was mentioned afterwards by 

 Newport and others, who added little to the knowledge we 

 had of this, so far purely British form. Recently Mr. Pocock, 

 in his above-mentioned pamphlet, reassuming the characters 

 given by I^each, adds some particulars, but merely for the 

 purpose of distinguishing it from the common species Litho- 

 bius forficatus, ly., and omits the main point, which throws 

 some light on the place this species has to occupy in the 

 numerous list of congeneric forms, viz., the fact that the 

 posterior angles of the seventh dorsal plate are produced, 

 causing L, variegatus to belong to the group of Lithobius 

 termed Neolithobius by Stuxberg. However, the obtuse shape 

 of the angles might, to a certain extent, account for this 

 omission. 



^ For bibliographical indications, see description of Z. variegatus. 



A4 



