162 J. MURRAY 



dotbad with pjlluiid d)ts. Lumbar plate not trefoliate, faceted in three panels, the 

 lines separating the lateral from the median panels going right up to the third 

 median plate. No fringe on fourth legs, or barbs on claws. Red eyes. Larva with 

 two claws, otherwise like the adult. 



General description. Length 175 M, exclusive of the legs, larva 100 M, seta a (of 

 adult) 60 n. The anterior portion of the head is rounded, and more like a head of 

 Macrobiotus than Echiniscus, lacking the lateral knobs and the beak usual in the 

 genus. The base of the head is wider than the front of the next segment, so that 

 there is a slight neck, rather more pronounced in the larva. The first and second 

 median plates are each divided into two portions, as is common in that section of the 

 genus which has V. and VI. separate. The third median often appears to be divided 

 in exactly the same manner, but the second portion is closely joined to the 

 lumbar plate. Both parts of the divided median plates are dotted. The plates 

 of each pair appear to be divided into two by a broad band, which is, however, 

 dotted. 



E. intermedius is a very distinct species. It has V. and VI. united, yet has the 

 median plates transversely divided, which is only usual in species having V. and VI. 

 separate. It appears to consistently lack the normal red colour of Echiniscus, though 

 that is not a safe character. The faceting of the lumbar plate is unusual in that the 

 angle of junction of the three facets continues to the anterior edge of the plate. The 

 absence of a trefoil on the lumbar plate is very unusual. I know of no other species 

 where this character is so distinctly marked. Some have been figured without the 

 cuts which make the trefoil, but unless the authors emphasise the absence it is likely 

 that they have been overlooked. 



The eggs have only been seen in a form, probably of specific value, from Hawaii 

 (see p. 151). 



Habitat. Among moss from the sea-shore at Victoria, British Columbia, 

 June 1909, abundant. 



This variety, with fine pellucid dots, is not known anywhere else, but in Queens- 

 land there occurs the type in which the plates have a broad reticulation instead of 

 the pellucid dots (see p. 129). Curiously enough, there is a form linking these 

 extremes in Hawaii. It is reticulate, like the Queensland form, but the reticulation 

 is smaller, and is formed by the edges of shallow pits (see p. 151). 



Echiniscus canadensis, sp. n. (Plate XX. Fig. 47) 



Specific characters. Large, red ; plates nine, two pairs, two median, V. and VI. 

 fused, dots round, regular, close ; no lateral processes except seta ; dorsal processes 

 a long setse over c, sometimes a shorter seta over d ; fringe of sharp spines on the 

 fourth leg ; inner claws with decurved, outer with straight, spines near the base. 



Detailed description. Length 300 M and upwards, exclusive of the fourth legs ; 



