On the Structure of Peripatus capensis. 225 



barred or quasi-scalariform. As in the case of R. duplex, already 

 described, these outermost layers of barred vessels, accompanied 

 by a few reticulated ones, become detached alternately from opposite 

 sides of the H-shaped central bundle. Passing quickly through a 

 thin delicate cellular inner bark, they enter the coarser parenchyma 

 of a middle one, as two irregular clusters of vessels with one 

 common investment prolonged from the innermost bark. On 

 reaching the outer bark they become two distinct cylindrical bundles, 

 each with its own delicate cortical investing layer ; and thus 

 invested, they emerge from the primary petiole to supply the 

 secondary rachis. 



The Oldham specimens of Rachiopteris bibractiensis agree with 

 those described by M. Renault in having all their vessels of the 

 barred type. The outer bark projects at numerous points in 

 large conical abortive hairs, which almost assume a spinous aspect. 



The author further figures and describes the section of a vascular 

 axis, with a central cellular medulla surrounded by five contiguous 

 crescentic masses of vascular tissue, whose concavities are directed 

 outwards. This plant appears identical with the Anarchopteris 

 Decaisnii of Renault. 



May 21, 1874. — William Spottiswoode, M.A., Treasurer and Vice- 

 President, followed by Dr. Sharpey, Vice-President, in the Chair. 



" On the Structure and Development of Peripatus capensis." 

 By H. N. Moseley, M.A., Naturalist to the 'Challenger' Expe- 

 dition. 



The author commences by expressing his obligations to Professor 

 Thomson, who gave him assistance in some parts of his work, and 

 every encouragement in the further prosecution of it. 



Specimens of Peripatus were collected at the Cape of Good 

 Hope during the stay of H.M.S. ' Challenger ' at Simon's Bay, 

 with a view to the investigation of the development of the animal. 

 A specimen was dissected and at once seen to be provided with 

 tracheae, and to contain far developed young. This led to as 

 careful an examination being made as time would permit, and hence 

 the present paper. The most modern paper on Peripatus is that 

 of Grube*. Grube, after examining the anatomy of the animal, 

 came to the conclusion that it was hermaphrodite, and placed it 

 among the "Bristle- Worms " in a separate order, Onychophora. 

 Grube has been followed in most text-books, such as those of Claus 

 and Schmarda ; but uncertainty on the matter has been generally 

 felt. De Quatrefagesf follows Gervais in placing Peripatus in 

 affinity with the Myriopods ; and the result of the present investi- 

 gation is to show that he is not far wrong. 



The species made use of appears to be Peripatus capensis, de- 

 scribed by Grube in the Zoological Series of the ' Novara ' expe- 



* Miiller'e Archiv, 1853. t Hist, des Armeies. 



