38o DISCOVERY REPORTS 



Willem claimed that the species possessed fourteen eyes, seven on each side of the head. 

 Wahlgren (1906), after the examination of a large quantity of material, stated that 

 antarcticus had only twelve eyes, six on each side. He figured the eyes and suggested 

 that owing to the intense pigmentation and the reaction of this under treatment with 

 caustic potash, Willem had mistaken for eyes the scattered oval transparent spots 

 pecuHar to this species. Carpenter (1906) described the new species, Cryptopygus 

 crassus, which differed from antarcticus in the possession of twelve instead of fourteen 

 eyes. Subsequently, in view of Wahlgren 's observations, Carpenter (1925) has stated 

 that in all probability his species is synonymous with antarcticus, Will., since the latter 

 species is now regarded as having only twelve eyes. Dr Carpenter very kindly gave 

 me a slide of Cryptopygus crassus, Carp., and although the specimens were too ad- 

 vanced to observe the actual number of eyes, detailed comparison upholds Dr Car- 

 penter's opinion regarding the synonomy of this species. A careful study was made of 

 the number of eyes of the specimens in the present collection. The difliculty of obtaining 

 clear specimens showing the exact position of the delicate ocelli was fully experienced, 

 but where clear mounts were obtained only twelve eyes could be discerned. Ample 

 evidence in support of these observations was provided by the examination of young 

 specimens which, with less intense pigmentation, left no doubt as to the number of eyes. 

 In the circumstance therefore, unless or until other material is forthcoming verifying 

 Willem's description of antarcticus with fourteen eyes, there is no justification for 

 erecting a new species or reinstating Cryptopygus crassus. Carp., for the Collembola of 

 the present collection. 



The genus Cryptopygus, which was erected by Willem on the discovery of Cryptopygus 

 antarcticus, is of particular systematic interest since it shows affinities to Anurophorus 

 and Isotoma. Its distribution was thought to be confined to the Antarctic islands, but 

 recently Carpenter (1925) described a new species, Cryptopygus niger, from Ben More, 

 Canterbury, New Zealand. This finding is of interest for unless Cryptopygus is discovered 

 later on the northern continents it must be regarded as affording further evidence of 

 original land connections between Antarctica, South America and New Zealand. The 

 two other species of this genus are Cryptopygus ductus, Wahl. (1906), from East Falkland 

 and Feuerland, and Cryptopygus caecus described by Wahlgren (1906) from South 

 Georgia. 



REFERENCES 



Carpenter, G. H., 1902. Report on Collections. . .of the 'Southern Cross', pp. 221-3 (British Museum). 



1906. Collembola from the South Orkney Islands, Proc. Roy. Soc. Edin., xxvi, pp. 473-81. 



• 1925. Some Collembola from Southern New Zealand, Mem. Proc. Manchester Lit. Phil. Soc, 69, 11, 



pp. 1-15. 

 ScHAFFER, C, 1 89 1. Die Collembolen von Slid Georgien, Jahrb. Hamburg, wiss. Anst., ix, pp. 195-201. 



1897. Apterygoten, in Hamburger Magalhaenischen Sammelreisen. 



Wahlgren, E., igo6. Antarktische tind subantarktische Collembolen, Wiss. Ergebnisse der schwedischen 



Siidpolar-exped. 

 Willem, V., 1902. Collemboles, Rapports Scientifiques, Voyage de Belgica. 



