TARDIGRADA: AUSTRALIA 135 



Echiniscus, sp. ? (Plate XVI. Fig. 1C) 



Small; plates nine,V. and VI. joined, two pairs, two median. Lateral processes a 

 a curved seta of 50 /x ; d, a strong curved spine of 50 n. Dorsal processes over c a 

 strong curved spine of 30 /*. Dots of moderate size, regularly spaced. Fringe 

 dentate, with few small points. Inner claws with somewhat strong decurved barbs. 



The length is 200 ju, exclusive of the legs. - The nature of the dots is not 

 apparent, whether granules or pits. The colour is red. 



Habitat. Australian Alps, New South Wales, altitude 5000 to 6000 feet. 



It is unlike any known species, but it is probably immature and might acquire 

 other processes as it grows. 



Echiniscus, sp. ? larva (Plate XVII. Fig. 23) 



Description Small, length 120 p., exclusive of legs. Plates 9, V. and VI. 

 united, two pairs, two median. Dots of moderate size, very regular, and appearing 

 to be granules. 



Lateral processes a and e, a a seta of 36 p., e a curved spine of 18 M. Dorsal 

 process a short curved spine of 8 M over d. There is a fringe of small triangular 

 teeth, and the claws of the fourth legs have large decurved barbs. 



Habitat. Among moss from the bush at Eumundi, Queensland. 



It is usually impossible to assign a larva of Echiniscus to the species to which it 

 belongs, although when a species occurs abundantly, without admixture of other 

 species, and larvae are found with it, there is a presumption that they belong to it. 

 Some larvae of species having very distinct characters (such as E. gladiator and 

 E. reticidatus) can be recognised without difficulty. In this case no suggestion can 

 be made as to the species. 



Oreella, gen. nov. (Plate XVIII. Fig. 26) 



Generic characters. Head with ten processes, as in Echiniscus ; body soft, not 

 protected on back and sides by plates ; teeth, pharynx, and claws as in Echiniscus. 



Oreella has the soft body of a Macrobiotus, with the teeth, pharynx, claws, and 

 processes on the head as in Echiniscus. Minor differences from typical Echiniscus 

 may be of merely specific value, and will be noted in the description of the only 

 species at present known. 



Oreella mollis, sp. n. (Plate XVIII. Fig. 26) 



Specific characters. Small, hyaline, back and sides papillose ; setae at base of 

 head long, springing from the summits of large narrow conical processes, which also 

 bear a little below the summit long narrow palps ; cirri near mouth with small 

 conical bases ; anterior pair of processes narrow cones ; the palps reduced to small 



