Art XVII. — Description of a New Species of 

 Peripatoicles prom West Aitstrtdut. 



By BALDWIN SPENCER, M.A., C.M.G., F.R.S., 



Professor of Biology in the University of Melbourne. 

 [Bead 10th September. 1908.] 



Ill March, 1907, Mr. H. M. Giles found in West Australia two 

 specimens of a species of Peripatoides distinct from P. huckarti 

 var. occidtiitalis, the only one hitherto known from that part of 

 the continent. It is evidently of rare occurrence, as Mr. Giles, 

 though constantly on the lookout, has only recently succeeded 

 in securing more specimens. In this instance he found three 

 adults and four young ones, but, unfortunately, though two 

 adults reached Melbourne safely, one adult and the young ones 

 completely perished. The four adult individuals serve, howevei, 

 to establish the existence of this second species in West Aus- 

 tralia, and I have much pleasure in associating with it the name 

 of its finder, who has devoted much time to the search. It mav 

 l)e descril)ed as follows: — 



Veri iHitoulcx (/ilesli, sp. n. 



Size of Body. — Three female specimens measure respectively 

 22 mm., 25 mm. and 27 mm. One male measures 25 mm. 



Colour. — The general body colour is dull gieenish. yellow or 

 reddish brown. There is no set pattern, l)ut each specimen has 

 a narrow, darker band down the mid dorsal line, with a median 

 very thin light line- so thin as only to be visible with tlie aid 

 of a lens. It is not nearly so well marked as in the specimen 

 of P. leurhartii, figured by Bouvier.^ and closely resenil)les that 

 in OojH'vi iHitiiK /ns)(/ni.''i. On eacli side of tlie IxkIv there is a 

 broad, lighter band just above the level of the legs. The whole 



1 Ann. (Ics Si'i. Nat., '.Itli sci-ics, tonic ii,, lltli.'>. This is calliMl /'. (irinitdlls. l>y Homier, 

 |)1. xi. The nciu-c'st apiu'oacli UMioii'jst all tluisu (i'.;iii-oil 1i\ lionvier to the skin of 

 /•. (lilfnii is that of /'. <iyf»}, ]>\. 4, ti','. ;il. 



