On a Sjjecies of Lepis7na, supposed to he Undescrihed. 187 



IV. Oti a Species of Lepisma, swpposed to he Undescrihed. By 

 James Simpson, Esq. Communicated by John Gibson, Esq. 



About two months ago I happened to be in the engine- 

 room of a large baking establishment in this city, when I 

 observed a rather strange insect move in somewhat spider- 

 like fashion from one crevice in the wall of the building to 

 another. I had not seen anything like it before, and felt 

 anxious to know what it was. Accordingly I set to work to 

 hunt it out, and was successful in capturing the object of my 

 curiosity. The engineer was summoned, and shown the 

 specimen. He informed me that he had seen a great many 

 of the same kind, and for the first time about six months 

 previously. This encouraged me to look further, and on 

 examining a corner close beside the large chimney stalk, 

 where the fuel was piled up, I was delighted to behold about 

 two or three dozen more of the insects. I accidentally dis- 

 turbed the ''nest," and in a moment they set off in all 

 directions. Fortunately, I succeeded in obtaining half-a- 

 dozen before they all got out of the way. These I despatched 

 to Dr Buchanan White of Perth for identification. 



Dr White now informs me that they belong to the genus 

 Lepisma, and are much larger than the common " sugar fish " 

 {Lepisma saccharina). He has not yet been able to determine 

 the species, but there can be no doubt of it being an imported 

 one, and probably may be undescrihed. The following is his 

 description : 



^^ Lepisma, sp. ? Candida, supra brunneo, fusco et nigro variegata ; oculis 

 nigris, antennis appendicibusqne pallide rubro-fuscis ; pedibus albis. An- 

 tennis corpore plus quam duplo longioribus ; appendice auali central! corpore 

 I longiore ; appendicibus analibus lateralibus corpore ^equilongis. Corpore 

 (priecipue lateribus) setis erectis pallide rufescente-fuscis vestito, Long. Corp. 

 61—8 mm." 



I have to add that the establishment referred to receives 

 supplies of goods for manufacturing purposes from France, 

 Germany, Holland, Spain, Denmark, U.S. America, Canada, 

 and Australia, so that if the species be hitherto undeter- 

 mined, and an imported one, it will be no easy matter to 



