284 Mr. R. I. Pocock on the Genus Theatops. 



genus Theatops on type specimens sent by Say to Leach and 

 deposited by him in the British Museum. Newport says 

 ' it approaches Cryptops, but differs from that genus in the 

 distinctness of the ocelli and in the possession of labial teeth.' 

 Gervais, in the fourth volume of * Apteres,' 1847, reunites it 

 to Cryiotops, and yet adds : * On devra tr^s-probablement la 

 r^unir aux veritables Scolopendres.' Wood, in 1862, and 

 later, in 1865, quotes Newport's description, stating that he 

 never saw a specimen of it. Latzel (1880), in the first part 

 of his ' Myriopodeu der Oesterreichisch-Ungarischen Monar- 

 chic,' makes it a probable synonym of Bcolopendra ; while 

 Kohlrausch (1881) enumerates it as a valid species of Theatops 

 in his * Gattungen und Arten der Scolopendriden.' It thus 

 appears that Say and Newport are all who saw specimens, 

 and their statements are opposed to each other in regard to 

 the position of the eyes. It will probably never appear 

 again \ at least it is not necessary to include it in future 

 lists." 



In the above-quoted passage the only inaccuracy with 

 regard to matter of fact occurs in the statement referring to 

 the number of specimens sent by Say to Dr. Leach. There 

 appears to have been but one, for apart from the fact of there 

 being but one at the present moment preserved in the British 

 (Natural-History) Museum, Newport says his " description is 

 taken from a specimen.''' 



"With this exception Dr. Underwood is correct in all that 

 he asserts with reference to the past history of Theatops ; but 

 the object that I have at present in view is to prevent the 

 fulfilment of his prophecy concerning the future probably in 

 store for this genus by showing that, so far from being con- 

 signed to oblivion by exclusion from future lists, the name 

 Theatops of Dr. Newport must not only be included, but 

 must, in addition, take in these lists the place that has 

 hitherto been assigned to the name Opisthemega of Dr. Wood. 



With the object, then, of settling once and for all the ques- 

 tion concerning the systematic position of ^'' Theatops posticaj^ 

 about which, as Dr. Underwood clearly shows, so much 

 diversity of opinion exists, I have reprinted word for word 

 the two descriptions to which all this diversity of opinion is 

 traceable, and have described the type specimen of this form 

 as accurately as is under the circumstances possible. 



Say (Journ. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philad. voL ii. pp. Ill, 112, 

 1821), in the following words, describes the species under 

 discussion : — 



