BY W. MACLEAY, .TUN., ESQ. 157 



long and near the middle. The only species of Anillus known 

 (A. cceui) is found in the neighbourhood of Bordeaux and 

 Toulouse, under stones in heaps of decomposed straw ; it is 

 described as very active in its movements. 



From Aepus our insect differs considerably, though in general 

 appearance there is great resemblance. Aepus has eyes, though, 

 they are very small aiid almost evanescent, while the trophi are 

 described as resembling those of Treclius ; indeed, Ae-pus seems 

 to be the link which connects Treclms and its affinities with the 

 group of blind insects represented by the genera Anopthalmiis, 

 Anillus, and J.llaplimius. Aepus fidvescens, the only species known, 

 is found under stones below high water mark on the coasts of 

 England and France. 



The affinity of Anopthnlmus to Illaphanus is not very 

 immediate, though one species, the A. Bayviondi, from the caves 

 of the Pyrenees approaches it in shape. The species of th.is 

 genus, five in number, are all inhabitants of caves ; three are 

 from the caves of Carniola ; one, as mentioned above, from the 

 Pyrenees ; and one from the mammoth cave, Kentucky. 



There is another genus, which I have never seen, but which 

 from the description is evidently in close affinity to the group we 

 have been considering, I allude to the genus TJialassohius described 

 by Sober in Gay's Hist, de Chile. The species T. testaceus is 

 described as having the habit of Aepus with the palpi of Bem- 

 hidium ; the eyes are almost obsolete. 



One interesting circumstance connected with Illaphanus I 

 have omitted to mention, viz., that it is the first instance of a 

 blind animal being found in Australia. That it will not be the 

 last I feel satisfied, for the caves in the mountain limestone 

 formation, which have been found the common habitat of blind 

 animals of all orders in other parts of the world, are nowhere 

 more abundant or more extensive than in ISTew South Wales. 



I hope that before long an attempt will be made by the 

 naturalists of our colony to have these caves thoroughly 

 searched, not only for the animals at present inhabiting them, 

 but for the remains of races of animals Ions' since extinct. 



