336 Mr. R. I. Pocock on Scolopendra valida, Lucas. 



That a species from North Africa possesses cliaracters 

 which seem to point to relationship between it and some 

 species from South America is of itself a fact of sufficient 

 interest to deserve special mention ; but it is perhaps scarcely 

 of a greater interest than certain others connected with the 

 range of Sc, vah'da, so far as is at present known, in its own 

 distributional area. 



As stated above, it was first discovered in the Canary 

 Islands, and hitherto its existence has not to my knowledge 

 been reported elsewhere. But in addition to sjjecimens 

 brought from Gran Canaria by the Rev. A, E. Eaton the 

 British (Natural History) Museum possesses specimens from 

 Bushire, on the Persian Gulf, in the same degree of N. latitude 

 as the Canary Islands, and a long series of forms from 

 Socotra, an island some 1200 English miles to the south of 

 Bushire. 



It will thus be seen that it occurs in two places situated 

 near the eastern and western extremities of the Mediterranean 

 district of the Palajarctic Region and in an island in the 

 north-eastern portion of the Ethiopian Region. 



"Whether or not it will be found in localities between those 

 already pointed out, it were premature to surmise. Suffice 

 it to say that although many species of Scolopendra from 

 North Africa are known, nothing resembling Sc. valida^ 

 Lucas, has ever been recorded as taken. 



The specimens from which the following description has 

 been taken have been preserved in spirits of wine. 



Scolopendra valida^ Lucas. 



1836-44. Scolopendra valida, Lucas, in Webb & Berthelot, Hist. nat. 



des lies Canaries, ii. Entomol. p, 49, tab. vii. fig. 14. 

 1845. Scolopendra valida, Newport, Trans. Linn. Sue. xix. p. 402. 



Colour. — Varying much with size, smaller specimens (30- 

 -60 millim.) being mostly testaceous, with the hinder portion 

 of the body slightly darker. Two specimens (90 millim.) 

 from Socotra testaceous ; others of the same length from Gran 

 Canaria and Socotra with olivaceous anterior and ochraceous 

 posterior tergites. Three specimens from Bushire (85-114 

 millim.) with head-plate, proximal segments of antennae, and 

 distal segments of anal legs olivaceous, the rest of the body 

 testaceous or ochraceous. Two specimens from Socotra 



