BY HENRY TRYON. 79 
feet or modified feet. The cephalic and mouth segments are 
united and continuous. There are two sub-retractile frontal 
tentacles or antenne. ‘The eyes, two in number, are simple and 
situate at the external base of the antenne. The mouth is 
ventrally situated nearly circular, and surrounded by a thick lip— 
the short exsertile pharynx. It includes the two appendages of 
the first pair, the foot-jaws or maxillz, each of which bears two 
hooks, one simple the other toothed. On each side of the mouth 
are the second pair of appendages; these are like the succeeding 
foot-like ones, but do not each terminate in claws but in a pore— 
the outlet of the channel leading from the slime glands. The feet 
proper are short, swollen, conoidal from within outwards, num- 
bering from 33 to 14 according to the species. ‘Towards the apex 
they are distinctly jointed, and on the under surface bear 
subcorneous foot-pads. At the extreme end, after being suddenly 
narrowed, two little hooks are borne. ‘The anus is posterior, and 
the genital apperture just in front of it on the ventral surface.* 
Numerous microscopic pores or stigmata, from which tracheze 
take their origin are scattered all over the surface of the body 
(Moseley). Peripatus is viviparous and, according to almost all 
authorities, bisexual. ‘The males are usually the smaller, otherwise 
the sexes are outwardly similar. It may attain a length of 2% 
inch., but usually measures much less. It is nocturnal in its habits, 
and during the day remains secluded under stones or rotten logs. 
By alternate movement of its feet it progresses quickly over the 
ground. It is carnivorous, and when molested, or in the presence 
of its prey, rapidly ejects a thick very tenacious fluid from the 
appendages on either side of the mouth, and so often forms a 
complete network of slime. During growth it changes its skin 
entirely more than once, and reserve claws, especially in the case 
of the jaw-feet, can be observed within the ones actually in use. 
Nowhere, where it occurs in its natural haunts, is Peripatus 
common. At the Cape it is “remarkably local and not by any 
means easy to find.” Ernst, in the case of P. Edwardsii, failed 
at first after long and diligent search to meet with the animal 
anywhere. It is so also with the New Zealand species. However 
it may occasionally be met with plentifully in quite frequented 
places where least expected. Ernst procured numbers from a 
courtyard (Nature, roth March, 1881, p. 447), and our species 
exists within the precincts of the Brisbane Hospital. 
* Dr. E. Grube, ‘‘ Voyage der Novara,” Zool. Theil. Bd. II., Anneliden, 
p. 4. Vienna, 1864-7. 
