TARDIGRADA: NEW ZEALAND 121 



The foregoing table shows the distribution of the New Zealand species over the 

 world. For this purpose the surface of the globe is divided into nine great areas, 

 being one for each of the continents, for the Arctic and Antarctic regions, and for 

 Australasia. The islands adjacent to the continents are included with them, New 

 Zealand is included with Australia, but Oceanic Islands have a column to themselves. 

 The group of the " Oceanic Islands " is unsatisfactory, as the only character which 

 they have in common is their isolation. The group is formed to gather up some odds 

 and ends of Tardigrade records from all over the world. 



For the local distribution the Australasian column is subdivided into five sub- 

 ordinate columns. 



In compiling the table I have used the published papers of Richters, Plate, and 

 others, and for some regions (S. America, Africa) I have used unpublished notes 

 of my own. Many records may have been overlooked, but in any case the whole 

 aspect of the facts is liable to be changed at any moment by fresh work in any of 

 the regions. 



As our knowledge stands, it appears that of the 21 identified species 16 are also 

 found in Europe, 13 in Australia and the Arctic Region, 11 in N. America, 9 

 in S. America, 10 in the Oceanic Islands, 8 in Africa, 7 in the Antarctic and 

 Asia. 



These proportions indicate probably rather the amount of work done in the 

 different regions than actual facts in distribution. This is especially likely to be 

 true in the case of Europe, where water-bears were first studied, and most of the 

 species discovered. 



Nevertheless, for what the facts are worth, the table shows that temperate New 

 Zealand has a closer correspondence with temperate Europe than with any other 

 country. In has as much affinity with the Arctic Region as with its nearest neigh- 

 bour Australia. It has least in common with the adjacent Antarctic (which doubtless 

 means that the Antarctic is poor in species) and with Asia (which is very little known). 



All the species which are common to New Zealand and the Arctic are also found 

 in Europe. Of the New Zealand species which are also in Australia and in the 

 Arctic, there are 10 species which are common to these two regions. 



The range of the various New Zealand species works out as follows. Milnesium 

 and M. echinogenitus are in all 9 columns, M. hufelandii and M. intermedivs in 

 8, D. chilenense and D. scoticum in 7, E. mutabilis and M. arcticus in 6, 

 M. harmsworthi, M. sattleri, and D. alpinum in 5. The others must be considered 

 local. 



E. novcezeelandice is known only in the three localities, New Zealand, Australia, 

 and Hawaii, all widely separated. M. furciger is a southern species, occurring in 

 New Zealand, S. America, and the Antarctic. Several others have no continuity 

 in their range, as at present known. M. nodosus is in New Zealand, Fiji, and 

 Africa; E. gladiator in New Zealand, Europe, and N. America; M. papillifer in 



BRIT. ANTARCT. EXPED. 1907~9. VOL. I. R 



