OF PERIPATUS CAPENSIS. 873 



PART I. 

 DESCRIPTION OF THE SPECIES. 



Peripatus capensis (fig. i). 



[The body is elongated, and slightly flattened dorso-ventrally. 

 The dorsal surface is arched, and darkly pigmented ; while the 

 ventral surface is nearly flat, and of a lighter colour. 



The mouth is placed at the anterior end of the body, on the 

 ventral surface. 



The anus is posterior and terminal. 



The generative opening is single and median, and placed 

 in both sexes on the ventral surface, immediately in front of 

 the anus. 



There are a pair of ringed antennae projecting from the an- 

 terior end of the head, and a pair of simple eyes, placed on the 

 dorsal surface at the roots of the antennae. 



The appendages of the body behind the antennae are dis- 

 posed in twenty pairs. 



1. The single pair of jaws placed within the buccal cavity 

 in front of the true mouth opening, and consisting each of a 

 papilla, armed at its termination with two cutting blades. 



2. The oral papillae placed on each side of the mouth. At 

 their apices the ducts of the slime glands open. 



3. The seventeen pairs of ambulatory appendages, each pro- 

 vided with a pair of chitinous claws at its extremity. 



4. The anal papillae placed on each side of the generative 

 opening. 



Colour. The following statements on this head are derived 

 from observations of spirit specimens. The colour varies in 

 different individuals. It always consists of a groundwork of 

 green and bluish grey, with a greater or less admixture of 

 brown. The chief variations in the appearance of the animal, 

 so far as colour is concerned, depend on the shade of the green. 

 In some it is dark, as in the specimen figured (fig. I) ; in others 

 it is of a lighter shade. 



There is present in most specimens a fairly broad light band 

 on each side of the body, immediately dorsal to the attachment 

 B. 56 



