246 Mr. R. I. Pocock on 



with it ; maurus he refers to Heterometrus, and spinifer 

 (I presume) to Palamnce us. 



The three views may be tabulated as follows : — 



Thorell. Karsch. Simon. 



Heterometrus = Scorpio = Heterometrus. 



Pandinus = Pandinus = Scorpio. 



Palamnseus = Heterometrus = Palamnseus. 



It will be seen from this that Karsch differs from Thorell 

 in two points, and that Simon differs from Thorell in one 

 point, whilst Simon differs from Karsch in all points ; and 

 that which makes the matter more complicated still is the 

 fact that each author has plenty to say in support of his own 

 view. 



I think, however, that the case can be in a great measure 

 simplified by the adoption of a fourth view, which is to a 

 certain extent a combination of the two held respectively by 

 Dr. Karsch and Mons. Simon. 



In the first place, I cannot see that Thorell had adequate 

 grounds for changing Scorpio into Pandinus, and I do not 

 know that any author, with the exception, perhaps, of Count 

 Keyserling, has followed him in this respect. If, then, it be 

 agreed to restore the name Scorpio, it will be seen, I think, 

 that the main difficulty to be contended with arises from the 

 idea that maurus is generically distinct from africanus. 



Now the reason for the separation of the two is found in a 

 difference in the shape of the humerus or second segment of 

 the chela, that segment in maurus presenting a form which 

 has not yet been met with in africanus and its allies. But 

 the fact that the shape of the humerus is not constant in all 

 the species allied to africanus shows that the character is one 

 of no great importance ; and further, since maurus is the only 

 species which possesses a peculiarly-shaped humerus, the 

 question may well be asked, What is gained by its separa- 

 tion ? Obviously, nothing. On the contrary, much of the 

 confusion above pointed out has resulted from it ; and if I 

 were to follow on this point the example of my predecessors, 

 consistency would compel me to form new generic names for 

 the species described below as exiiialis and cavimanus. But 

 this 1 shall not do. I shall content myself with regai-ding 

 them and maurus merely as well-marked species of Scorpio ^ 

 and if this view be followed by other authors the solution of 

 the problem becomes easy ; for spinifer, the other species 

 of Heterometrus, can then stand as the type of that genus, and 

 Palammeus will be a synonym of Heterometrus, as Pandinus 

 is a synonym of Scorpio. 



