486 Records of the Indian Museum. [Vol. VIII, 



ovaries they agree with this genus and differ from all other known 

 forms of On37chophora. 



The most remarkable feature of the system is the extremely 

 great length of the unpaired portion of the oviduct. It is clear 

 that the fusion between the right and left portions of the system, 

 well seen in Eopenpaius, is still further developed in Typhloperi- 

 patiis and this fact points to the conclusion, also indicated b}' other 

 characters, that the Abor genus has reached a higher degree of 

 specialization than its Malaysian lelative. 



Development. 



Uterine ova in which no traces of the blastopore have yet 

 appeared are completely filled with yellowish yolk and are from 

 i"5 to i'6 mm. in length and about i mm. in breadth; they are 

 consequently larger than those found in any genus with the ex- 

 ception of the Australasian Peripatoides. 



The ova iind embryos in any one female show a certain range 

 of variation in age ; but it seems that the whole cycle of develop- 

 ment is not to be found in the uteri of any one individual. In 

 one female tlie uteri are filled with ova in which no trace of struc- 

 ture is apparent. In another similar ova are to be found along 

 with others in which some of the primitive segments are differen- 

 tiated, the blastopore being cither open or completely closed'. In 

 other specimens only comparatively well developed embryos, bent 

 double with the anterior and posterior ends in contact, are to be 

 seen and but little diff'erence in age is to be found between the 

 embryo nearest the receptaculum seminis and that nearest the 

 genital opening. I imagine that the subsequent stages will only 

 be found in material collected at a later period of the year than 

 that in which my material was obtained; I have not found any 

 embryos which exhibit ring-like markings, nor any in which the 

 feet are at all well developed. 



It is clear that for purposes of classification on the lines adop- 

 ted by Sedgwick it may safely be asserted that the uterine em- 

 bryos of Typhloperipalus are nearly of the same age, in contra- 

 distinction to the condition found in Peripatus, Eoperipaii.s, Meso- 

 peripatus^ Paraperipaius and in some species of Peripatoides in 

 which almost the entire cycle of dev^elopment may be found in the 

 uterus of a single female. 



The distinction is perhaps not a very important one, for it 

 appears probable that it is, in a large measure, due to climatic 

 conditions. It seems likely that in the Abor country, with seasons 

 well-defined both as regards temperature and humidity, young are 

 produced at one period of the year only, probably in the wet 

 season. In such a country as the Malay x\rchipelago, on the other 

 hand, the climate is far more equable and the conditions are con- 



^ It was an examination of these specimens that led me, in my preliminary 

 diagnosis (Rec. Ind. Mus., IX, p. 242, 1013), to make the erroneous statement 

 that the embrvos are of all agfes. 



