426 

 3. On Cryptodesmus Getschmannii Karsch. 



By O. F. Cook, Long Island, N. Y. 



eingeg. 15. Juli 1895. 



A recent visit to the Berlin Museum gave the opportunity of 

 examining the type of this, the only European species of the genus ^ 

 Having previously collected ample material and made dissections and 

 drawings of several African forms related to Cryptodesmus gaboni- 

 cus (Lucas), the type of C. Getschmannii was an object of special 

 interest. 



The similarity in habit to the African species is very striking, 

 and is certainly much greater than to any other Diplopoda. The 

 creature is only about three times as long as broad ; it is as strongly 

 depressed as the African Cryptodesmi, and the head is entirely con- 

 cealed. This is, however, another of the curious resemblances in form 

 between Diplopoda really not related. C. Getschmannii belongs to 

 the Polyzonidae. The specimen is a dried female and may be young. 

 The posterior end of the body is somewhat rolled under, and the head 

 is so pressed against the first segment that the presence or absence of 

 eyes cannot be certified. The relationship is with Folyzonium in the 

 shape of the head, antennae, and legs, also in the structure of the 

 segments and the lack of dorsal ornamentation. The pores are located 

 nearly as in Polyzonium and are in continuous series. From Polyzo-. 

 niiim there is, however, so great a difference in the proportions of the 

 body and of the short, strongly depressed segments, that the species 

 is the type of at least a new genus, for which Platyzonium would be 

 an appropriate name. The condition and sex of the only specimen 

 make a satisfactory study impossible, but the fact that the head is less 

 pointed than in Polyzonium , and is much exceeded by the first seg- 

 ment, would seem to indicate that other differential characters may 

 be expected from the examination of better material. 



16 May 1895. 



4. Alcyonaceen von Ternate. 

 Fam. Nephthyidae Verrill. 



Von W. Kükenthal, Jena. 



eingeg. 19. Juli 1895. 



Hiermit gebe ich eine kurze Beschreibung der von mir im Literal 

 von Ternate gefundenen Nephthyiden; eine ausführliche, von Ab- 



^ Über einen neuen europäischen Myriopoden. Sitzgsber. d. Ges. 

 Naturf. Freunde zu Berlin, No. 3. p. 58 (16 March 1880). The specimen was collected 

 at Pajares, Cantabrian Asturia. 



