1 -1 I June, 



NOTES ON THYSAHURA COLLECTED IN THE CAN ABIES AND 



MADEIRA. 



BY H. S. RIDLEY, M.A. 



By the kindness of the Rev. A. E. Eaton, I have received several 

 specimens or! Thysanura collected by him in the above-mentioned 

 localities, in the latter part of the year 1880 ; among them were 

 specimens of Lepisma saccharina, L., from the hotels at Puerto de la 

 Orotava, in Teneriffe, and Los Palmas, in Grand Canary. This insect 

 is common in houses all over Europe, and is possibly indigenous, but 

 I have never heard of its being found at any distance from human 

 habitations ; it would be interesting to discover the extent of its dis- 

 tribution, and whether it lives anywhere independently of man. 



Lepisma mauritanica, Lucas. There are two specimens agreeing 

 closely with Lucas' description of this insect, except in two or three 

 points. Lucas describes his specimen (for he only took one) as yel- 

 lowish-grey, washed with brown : whereas, my specimens are said to 

 have been of a dark mouse-brown colour. Lucas also affirms that the 

 spots in the two exterior rows on the abdomen are much larger than 

 those of the inner row ; I can, however, see no difference in mine. 

 Lastly, he says that the first abdominal segment has no spots ; but in 

 these specimens they are plainly visible. I have no doubt, however, 

 that I am correct in referring these specimens to that species, they 

 were taken near Los Palmas and on Pico Bandana, under stones, at an 

 altitude of from 350 — 1500 feet. Lucas' specimen was collected in 

 Algiers. 



There are also in the collection several specimens of a Lepisma, 

 which appear to me to be new ; they were taken at Santa Cruz de 

 Teneriffe, on a hill above the town, and under stones, at an altitude of 

 500 feet, and also under stones at San, on the Morocco coast, in the 

 months of December and January. 



Lepisma Eatoni, n. sp. 



Length, 9 mm. Breadth of thorax in the widest part, 2 ram. Colour, with 

 the scales, dark grey above, under-surface lighter, anal region fuscous ; without the 

 scales dull yellow. Antennae three-fourths of the length of the body, inserted in 

 front of the eyes, the basal segment broad, tbe second short and thick, fuscous, with 

 the apex darker, the rest of the antennae light brown, pilose. Head short and 

 broad, distinctly separated from the thorax, fore-part covered thickly with fawn- 

 coloured hairs. Thorax long, not much broader than the head, segments equal, sides 

 and breast covered with rather long fawn-coloured hairs, which, on the lateral 

 margins, spring from about seven dark spots. The abdomen tapers but little, and 

 is short in contrast with the long thorax : the caudal setae are brown, with rings of 

 white, pilose ; but as they are not perfect in any of the specimens, I cannot give 

 their length. 



20, Portsea Place, Connaught Square : 

 April, 1881. 



