164 DE. C. CHILTON ON THE SUBTEERANEAN 



The existence of these animals in New Zealand was first recorded by me [22] about 

 eleven years ago, but the original descriptions, though fairly accurate so far as they go, 

 were yery short and meagre, and the figures were rough and crude, and many points 

 were left on which fuller and more complete information was much to b3 desired. 

 Moreover, during the time that has elapsed since they were first discovered, much 

 additional information has been gathered as to their occurrence and distribution, and 

 no connected account of these has as yet been published. During tha same time, too, 

 some important works on the Blind Subterranean Crustacea of other parts of the world 

 have appeared, particularly Packard's work on the Cave Fauna of North America [83], 

 and Wrzesniowski's very important memoir on "Three Subterranean Amphipoda" [12i]. 



If we consider the peculiarities of the New-Zealand fauna and flora, and remember 

 that New Zealand forms by itself a distinct zoological province, which has long been 

 more or less ^lerfectly isolated from other provinces, we should naturally expect that 

 the Subterranean Crustacea of New Zealand would present us with some new interesting 

 facts, and that they would differ largely from the similar Crustacea found elsewhere. 

 This proves to be the case. The Subterranean Crustacean fauna is peculiarly rich, and 

 much more varied than that of either Europe or North America ; so far as at present 

 known, it consists of six distinct species, three Amphipods and tlii*ee Isopods, belonging 

 to five different genera. Of these genera Crangonijx is already known from the 

 subterranean waters of Europe and North America, but none of the others have been 

 recorded from underground habitats elsewhere, though one, Gammariis, is more or less 

 allied to the blind Niphargus of Europe, the species of which were indeed originally 

 assigned to Oamniarus, and are still so assigned by some writers. Two genera are 

 new : one, Cruregens, belongs to a family, the Anthur'ulx, no members of which were 

 previously known to inhabit underground waters, and the other, Phreafolous, which 

 now contains three species (two from the subterranean waters of New Zealand, and 

 one freshwater one from the top of the Mt. Kosciusko plateau in Australia), is so peculiar 

 that it forms the type of a new and very remarkable family of the Isopoda. 



In the following pages I give a full detailed description of the external anatomy of 

 each of these six species, in addition to the brief specific diagnoses and, usually, a 

 discussion on the characters of the genus. I have given what is known of their occurrence 

 and distribution, of their habits, and of the p:^culiarities which they present in common 

 with or in addition to other Subterranean Crustacea ; their probable origin is discussed 

 at some length. I have given also a short historical introduction showing the growth 

 of our knowledge on t!ie subject of Cave and Well Sessile-eyed Crustacea; and have 

 concluded with some remarks on the bearing of the facts presented by them on the 

 general questions of Biology. 



For their kindness in providing me with material, I have to record my best thanks 

 to Mr. E.. M. Laiug, of the Christchurch Boys' High School, Mr. E. Wilkinson, of the 

 School of Agriculture, Lincoln, Messrs. J. B. Mayne and W. W. Smith of Ashburton, 

 Mr. D. L. luwood and Miss Young of Winchester. Mr. W. P. Hciy of Irvington, 

 Indiana, U.S.A., lias kindly supplied me Avith specimens of some North-American 

 Subterranean Crustacea. Mr. Smith, of Ashl)urt<)u, has been particulai-ly zealous and 



