Notes on the Family Cathypnidn\ By J. Murray. 547 



number of species in almost all families of Eotifers, much closer 

 observation is necessary than was formerly the case. I do not 

 mean to say that I, for my part, would distinguish species on 

 narrower differences, -but that, by closer examination, minute but 

 good characters are detected which are readily overlooked Vjy 

 anyone not a specialist. 



In short, it is necessary to specialize in certain groups if one is 

 to identif}'' species with certainty. Even in the Cathy pnidae, which 

 is not one of the largest families, it requires a great deal of study 

 before one is qualified to identify the sixty odd species, besides 

 taking into account the forty odd synonyms and rejected species. 



The main object of this paper is to describe all the species I 

 have observed, and not previously described by me. In these 

 three papers in the Journal we have about fifty species of Cathyp- 

 nidae all observed by the same pair of eyes, and all drawn (a very 

 important point) to the same scale. 



I would have liked to give some sort of key to the species, but 

 that would be rather a difficult matter, requiring more sifting of 

 material than I have time for. 



A great proportion of the material used in preparing this paper 

 has been drawn from Mr. Eousselet's collection. This paper should 

 properly have been written by him, but that he would not under- 

 take it. 



With his usual kindness, Mr. Eousselet turned over to me all 

 the Cathypnidpe in his collection to do what I would with, and he 

 has throughout given me the benefit of his critical opinion on 

 specific values. 



In the collection I found a good number of unknown species, 

 which are here described, some of them having no known habitat 

 except " the Eousselet collection," specimens having reached Mr. 

 Eousselet without data of localities, or having lost their labels. 



The finding of these species in the collection was not merely 

 a lucky chance for me. They were there because Mr. Eousselet 

 knew enough about the Cathypnidie to see that the animals looked 

 different from the species he knew, and so to isolate and mount them. 



I have also to thank Mr. Bryce for sending to me a number of 

 the original specimens of his new species, and for critical advice 

 about specific values in a family he knows well. 



Mr. Harring, of Washington, has assisted with advice and 

 bibliographical references, and I have seen many of his American 

 specimens by favour of Bryce and Eousselet. 



Specific Characters. 



I have no intention to consider the structure of the Cathypnidse, 

 except in so far as is necessary for the identification of species. I 

 know of no case in which there is anything characteristic in the 



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