TERRESTRIAL ISOPODA OF NEW ZEALAND. 13') 



Mr. Thomson *, differ in having the side-plates of the third to fifth segments of the 

 metasome much smaller, and thus approach still more closely to Fhiloscia, under wliicli 

 they sliould perhaps be placed. 



2. OXISCUS KENEPTJRENSIS, Sp. UOV. (PI. 16. fig. 3.) 



Specific (Jescrqitioii. — Body regularly ohlong-oval, broad, the length rather less tlian 

 twice the greatest breadth ; dorsal face but sliglitly convex, finely granular, not setose, 

 each segment bearuig on each side of the median line a sliglitly raised and wrinkled 

 patch, most marked on anterior segments. Cephalon small, deeply sunk into first 

 segment of pereion, frontal edge regularly convex ; lateral lobes very small, subacute at 

 apex. Side-plates of mesosome greatly prominent, lamellar, contiguous, projecting 

 almost laterally, those of the first segment extending forwards into subacute lolies, which 

 reach to the level of the anterior margin of the eyes ; posterior angle broadly rounded ; 

 posterior margins of the second and tliird segments slightly sinuous ; posterior angles 

 rectangular, slightly rounded. Posterior angles of the fourth to seventh segments progres- 

 sively produced more and more backAvard and ending acutely ; those of the seventh reach 

 as far posteriorly as the end of the epimcral portion of the third segment of metasome. 

 First two segments of metasome of fair length, but wholly embraced by the preceding 

 segment; epiraeral plates of the next three segments produced and recurved, ending 

 acutely, the last reaching slightly beyond the end of the terminal segment. Terminal 

 segment triangular, broader than long, sides slightly concave, end rounded and reaching 

 as far as the end of the base of the uropods, posterior portion slightly depressed and 

 concave. 



Eyes of moderate size, about fifteen ocelli. Antennae very similar to those of Onisctis 

 pnnctatus, scabrous, the minute setae being less prominent than in tliat species. Legs 

 long, spinose, the posterior pairs somewhat elongated. Opercular plates of pleopoda not 

 bilobed. Uropoda wdth basal joint large ; outer ramus broad at base, tapering regularly 

 and equally on both sides to an acute point, scarcely setose, inner ramus reaching to the 

 middle of the outer, minixtely setose. 



Colour. — Slate-coloured, with white markings on the wrinkled patches on the mesosome 

 and usually with a lateral roAV of white patches at junction of epimera with the central 

 portion. 



Lenyth about 11 mm., breadth 6'5 ram. 



Habitat. — Kenepuru [J. 3IcMahoi)). 



Hemarks. — In fully-grown specimens this species can be readily distinguished fi"om 

 Oniscus punctattis by the flattened body, the greatly-developed epimera, and the 

 wrinklings on the dorsal surface ; in younger forms all of these points are less marked, 

 but the species can then be usually recognized by the large and acutely-pointed outer 

 rami of the uropods. 



* Proc. Roy. Soc. Tasmania, ISiti!, p. 10 (separate copy). 



