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PYCNOGONIDA. 



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E. J. MIERS. 



1. Achelia lasvis, var. australiensis. (Plate XXXV. fig. A.) 



Body and legs moderately robust, the body disciform, the leg- 

 bearing processes being closely approximated. Proboscis stout, sub- 

 cylindrical, tapering toward its distal extremity, slightly deflexed. 

 Mandibles rudimentary, 2-jointed, the terminal joint very small. 

 Palpi 8-jointed ? ; ovigerous legs 10-jointed. Legs without spines, 

 but with a short, blunt, conical process at tho distal end of tho 

 fourth joint, and with two auxiliary claws beside the normal claw. 

 As Mr. Hodge's description of Achelia Icevis (from Polperro, Corn- 

 wall) is very insufficient, I append the following from the single 

 Australian example I have examined : — 



The body is robust and disciform, with the leg-bearing processes 

 enlarging distally and closely approximated. The cephalothoracic 

 segment (viewed from above) is as long as the three following and 

 is elevated on its dorsal surface, which bears the rounded oculiferous 

 tubercle ; the three following segments (in a dorsal view) short and 

 transverse ; the first the shortest, almost transversely linear. The 

 proboscis is about as long as the body without the abdomen, ob- 

 liquely deflexed, and is of a narrow ovoid shape, tapering to the 

 distal extremity. The abdomen about as long as the three preceding 

 segments of the body, and very slender. The mandibles are rudi- 

 mentary, 2-jointed, the terminal joint about half the length of 

 the preceding. The palpi are apparently 8-jointed (on one side 

 evidently broken) ; the second and fourth joints subequal and rather 

 long ; the first and third and the four last very short. The ovigerous 

 legs 10-jointed ; the first joint very short, the second and third 

 longer and subequal, the fourth and fifth yet longer and of about 

 equal length, the sixth to ninth very short, and the terminal joint 

 minute. The first to third joints of the legs are short, the second a 

 very little longer than the first or third: the fourth, fifth, and sixth 

 joints longer and of about equal length ; the fourth joint somewhat 

 more dilated than either of the following, and with a slight blunt 

 process at the distal end of its upper margin ; the upper surface of 

 the fifth and sixth joints is slightlv uneven, but can scarcely be 



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