187G.] ARACHNIDA FROM KERGUEJLEn's LAND. 2G1 



Abdomen dark yellow-brown, and (as well as the cephalothorax) 

 tliinly clothed with short pale hairs ; the hinder part of the abdomen 

 is of a pale dull yellowish hue, and its margin is indented with four 

 small elongate notches. On each side of the \inderpart, just behind 

 the basal joints of the 4th pair of legs, is a roundish patch, whose 

 surface appears to be covered with minute points, which may- 

 possibly be the plates of spiracular organs. 



The legs are moderately long and tolerably strong, 7-jointed, the 

 last or tarsal joint being very small ; they are of a pale yellowish 

 colour, marked underneath with patches of a bright shining orange 

 red, and furnished with a few short hairs ; each tarsus terminates 

 with two curved diaphanous claws springing from a small claw-joint ; 

 and beneath them is an ov«l sucker hke pad. 



The palpi are five-jointed (including the basal joints or maxillae) ; 

 these latter are of a reddish colour and soldered to the labium ; the 

 colour of the palpi is similar to that of the legs ; the terminal (or 

 digital) joint is short and small ; the next to it (or radial) is large and 

 tumid, the other two joints short. The length of the palpi slightly 

 exceeds that of the falces. 



Thefalces are porrected in the form of a beak, and are armed 

 beneath with numerous sharp hooks or teeth directed backwards. 



Several examples of this Acarid were found by the Rev. A. E. 

 Eaton on a Penguin (^Pygosceles tceniatus) in Kerguelen's Land. 



Ordo nov. ? Pcecilophysidea. 

 External Characters of the Order : — Cephalothorax and abdomen 

 covered with a continuous epidermis of a rather slight texture, un- 

 segmented, and united to each other throughout their whole breadth, 

 the point of junction being clearly indicated by a transverse line or 

 suture. Palpi filiform, and terminating with a single minute claw. 

 Legs eight in number, their basal joints closely grouped together on 

 the sternal surface of the cephalothorax , the tarsi terminate with 

 two claws, between which is a slender pectinated style. Falces 

 didactylous. Maxillce coalescing at their base. Labium (properly 

 so called) wanting. Eyes two. 



Fam. PCECILOPHYSIDES. 



In its general appearance this curious little Arachnid seems to be 

 a compound of the Spiders, Solpugids, Chelifers, and Acari. On its 

 upperside it reminds one strongly of the Solpugidea, both in the 

 massive falces, and its two eyes on a small tubercle at the fore extremity 

 of the caput ; its underside bears a strong resemblance in the maxillae 

 and palpi to the Araneidea ; its profile resembles that of the pseudo- 

 Scorpiones, while in its small size, continuous, delicate epidermis, and 

 closely approximated thorax and abdomen it shows a strong likeness 

 to the Acaridea. 



Gen. nov. Pcecilophysis. 



Eges two, closely grouped on a small tubercle at the fore extremity 

 of the caput, just between and above the base of the falces. 



