276 ON THE OVI PARITY OF THE LARGER VICTORIAN PERIPATUS. 



This embryo, then, developed for at least eight months and a 

 half after the egg was laid, and at the end of that time was a 

 perfect young Peripatus, differing externally from the adult only 

 in its smaller size and less deeply pigmented skin. 



There are still two eggs left in the hatching box, but they do 

 not look to me at present as if they were going to hatch. Whether 

 they do so or not, however, I think I may fairly claim to have 

 now definitely proved that the larger Victorian Peripatus at any 

 rate sometimes lays eggs, and that these eggs are capable of 

 undergoing development outside the body until perfect young 

 animals are produced. The great length of time required for the 

 dev^elopment of the eggs is very remarkable, but is only what one 

 might expect on considering the unusual length of time required 

 for intra-uterine development in other species. 



