A New Victorian Blind Amphipod. 153 



Niphargus pulchellus, n. sp. 



Specific diagnosis. — Body long, slender. Eyes wanting. Coxfe 

 of anterior four segments of pereion slightly less in depth than 

 their respective segments, those of the three succeeding ones 

 being short. Gnathopoda having the propoda small, subquadrate, 

 narrowest proximally ; second slightly the longer ; palmae trans- 

 verse, margin straight, spinuous. Last pair of pereiopoda with 

 propodos, and carpus much longer than those of the anterior ones. 

 First three segments of pleon subequal, inferior margins rounded, 

 posterior angles bearing two spinules. First and second uropoda 

 short, first longer than second ; similar in form, peduncle longer 

 than rami. Terminal uropoda very long, jointed, inner ramus 

 wanting. Telson cleft half way to the base. 



Colour — Snow white. 



Leiigth — 6 to 7 nun. 



Habitat — Fresh- water pool, Thorpdale, Gippsland. 



Detailkd Dkscriptiox. 



The following description is taken from a specimen of 6'5 mm. 

 in length. The largest, amongst three collected, measured 7 mm. 

 Each was similar in form, even in the proportional length of the 

 terminal uropods, which in this genus are said by Schiodte to be 

 vai'iable in length according to sex, that of the male being the 

 longer. 



Body (Plate XV., Fig. 1). — The body is slender, with a few 

 short setaj situated upon it. The coxa? of the first four segments 

 of the pereion are almost as deep as their respective segments, 

 those of the following three being nariow, and each is fringed by 

 a few short sette. The anterior segment of the pleon is pioduced 

 downward to the level of the inferior margin of the coxa of the 

 preceding segment, and the succeeding ones are subequal. The 

 antero- and postero-inferior angles of the anterior three segments 

 of the pleon are evenly rounded, and each have two spines 

 pointing hindward on the posterior angle. There is no appear- 

 ance of any eyes or pigment. 



Upper Antentice. — The upper antennse are about two-thirds the 

 length of the body. The first joint of the peduncle is long, with 

 the upper margin convex*, and lower straight, the second joint 



