TERRESTEIAL TSOPODA OF NEW ZEALAND. 1^7 



Specific description. — Body narroAV ohlong-oval, surface smooth and shining in large 

 specimens, in small specimens bearing numerous short setae. Pirst and second segments 

 of mesosome with posterior margins straight, lateral angles rounded, posterior margin of 

 third slightly sinuate, posterior angles of last three segments only slightly producinl 

 backward, subacute. Metasome al)ruptly narrower than mesosome ; epimera of third to 

 fifth segments small, closely appressed. Terminal segment triangular, flat, sides straight 

 or a little incurved, apex subacute. 



Antennge very long and slender, from one-half to two-thirds the length of tlie body, 

 very hirsute, especially towards the end and in small s])ecimens ; third and fourth joints 

 together eqiial in length to the fifth, which is as long as the flagellum, the three joints 

 of which are subequtil ; terminal stylet slender, about two-thirds the length of the last 

 joint. Legs long, greatly increasing in length posteriorly, A^ery spinous. Opercular plates 

 of the second and succeeding pleopoda with three or four setae projecting at right angles 

 to the surface. Basal joint of uropoda reaching Avell beyond the last segment ; inner 

 surface scabroiis and with a few setae ; outer side Avith a well-marked groove, l)ecoming 

 shalloAver towards the base; inner branch rather more than half as long as the outer, 

 arisino- oulv a little in front of it, Avitli numerous short setfe and two lonii-er ones at the 

 apex ; outer ramus much stouter and conical, scabrous, and with some small setae but 

 fewer than on the inner ramus. 



Colon J- light brown, often Avhitish, with various markings of darker broAvn, arranged 

 roughly in a median and two lateral longitudinal bands, frequently with a roAV of Avhitish 

 patches at the bases of the epimera. Less yellowish white Avith broAvn markings, 

 especially on the l)asal joints. 



Length about 10 mm., breadth 4 mm. 



Kabitat. — Under rotten Avood in forests, Whykare River {Dana) ; Howick, Auckland 

 (G. M. Thomson); Takapuna (i. Hames) ; Kenepuru, Marlborough {J. Mc3Iahon). 



Hemarks. — I have little doubt that the specimens Avhich I have described above are to 

 be considered as belonging to Oniscus puhescens, Dana. From his description and figures 

 it is eAident, as Budde-Lund has already inferred, that he was dealing with a species of 

 Philoscia. His figure show^s an Isopod less narrow than most of my specimens, Imt it 

 was taken from a specimen only 3 mm. long, and I have specimens of about tlie same 

 size that correspond very closely to his figure, and from the series at my command I am 

 able to I'ecord the fact that in young specimens the metasome may be only as long as it 

 is broad at the base, Avliile in larger specimens it may be fully twace as long as broad, 

 and that the mesosome shoAvs corresponding A^ariations ; in large forms, too, the antenn;B 

 become longer and more slender. Dana's specimens were obtained from the north of 

 Auckland, and most of my specimens are also from places not A^ery far removed where 

 the species appears to be fairly common, and I know of no other species from that 

 neighbourhood to which Dana's description could apply. 



I have little doubt that the species described by Budde-Lund from the Ca))e of Good 

 Hope under the name J?hiloscia mina, and afterwards recorded by DoUfus from three 

 localities in the Seychelles, is the same as the New Zealand species. Budde-Lund's descrip- 

 tion applies Avell to my specimens, and the groove on tlie outer surface of the base of the 



