3()2 Caj)t. F. \\'. llutton on Pcripatus nova2-zealaiulia\ 



Lcngtli 1-2 iuclics, ^ly largest s})ecimcns have been ob- 

 tained at Duiieilin. 



The young when first born are pure white, with the antennae 

 slightly tinged with purple. 



In a]ipearanee this speeies closely resembles P. capcnsisj 

 figured in the ^ Zoology of the Voyage of the Novara ;' but it 

 has two pairs of legs less, and is Iferm aphrodite. 



The geographical distribution of Peripatus is interesting, 

 species being found in the West Indies, Chili, New Zealand, 

 and the Ca])e of Good Hope. We must therefore suppose 

 that it lived on the old Antarctic continent which, I have 

 shown*, probably existed during the Upper Jurassic and Lower 

 Cretaceous periods. 



Habits. — They live in decayed wood, under stones, or in 

 crevices of rock. They are nocturnal, but will feed in the day- 

 time when hungry. They feed upon animals. I have seen one 

 shoot out its viscid fluid from the oral papilla; at a fly intro- 

 duced into the jar in which it was confined, and stick it down; 

 it then went up and sucked its juices, rejecting the whole of 

 the integument. This viscid fluid is for offensive and not 

 defensive purposes t- In the Avinter they become half-torpid, 

 although procreation still goes on. During this time of the 

 year I have never seen them feed, and they cannot emit their 

 viscid fluid, or only in very small quantity. They move with 

 deliberation, entirely by means of their legs, the body being 

 much lengtliened. When walking, the antennae are constantly 

 moved about as feelers. If a needle is placed upright imme- 

 diately in front of one, the antenna is drawn past it without 

 actual contact ; but the points of the hairs probably touch the 

 needle. Although viviparous, the eggs are often extruded 

 before development is complete ; but these always die. They 

 appear to breed all the year round, as I have never opened 

 one that did not contain embryos. Notwithstanding this, they 

 are local and not very abundant. When divided they die 

 very quickly ; and they are easily killed by immersion in 

 S})irit. When killed in spirit, they often die bent backwards. 

 The body shows no segments, and there are no perivisceral 

 septa. The only account of the anatomy of Peripatus that I 

 liave been able to see is the abstract of Mr. Moseley's paper 

 given in the Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. ser. 4, vol. xiv. p. 225 ; 



• Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. 1874, ser. 4, vol. xiii. p. 100, and 'Report on 

 tbe Geolo<ry of Otago ' (Dunediu, 1875), p. 85. 



t Mr. Belt mentions a species of Myriopotl, belonging to tbe order 

 Siigontia of Brandt, tbat discbarges a similar viscid fluid from its moutb 

 to a distance of 3 incbes, by moans of wbicb it secures its prey (' Naturalist 

 in Nicaragua," p. 140j. 



