316 MR. A. D. MICHAEL ON THE VARIATIONS IN THE 



backward, except two anterior, which point forward over the rostrum; length of hairs 

 increases a little from the anterior to the posterior part of the body, the former about 

 •04 millim., the latter about -06 millim. 



Ventral surface. All tbe chitinized plates divided up into scale-like spaces similar to 

 those of the dorsal surface, but even more distinct. In female anal plate triangular, 

 much broader than long, broad end forward, the two anterior angles very sharp, the 

 posterior truncated ; anus in the middle of the plate. Ventral plate large and broad, 

 only divided from anal by a narrow line. Ventral and genital plates anchylosed. Two 

 large triangular metapodic plates behind the fourth leg. Stigmal plates much 

 expanded posteriorly. Sternal plate normal. The whole ventral surface is haired like 

 the dorsal, but the hairs are not so large. 



Habitat. Frequent in the nests of the Common Mole (Talpa europcea) in England. The 

 male rarer than the female. 



L^;laps(?) ligoniformis, sp. n. * (PI. XXXII. tigs. 16 and 17.) 



? 



Length without rostrum, about "50 mm. 



Breadth, about -37 „ 



Length of legs, 1st pair, without ungues, about '34 „ 



2nd *25 



>> >> orci ,, „ ,, o\) „ 



Ith -XX 



Colour dull, light drab-brown. 



Texture slightly rough, but without distinct markings, the whole dorsal surface 

 covered by an unbroken chitinous plate. 



Shape. Somewhat spade-shaped, whence the name. The female obtusely pointed 

 anteriorly ; broadly truncated posteriorly. The male more rounded at both ends, but 

 narrower. Dorsum rather flat, particularly in the female. 



Mandibles of male (tig. 17) with the fixed arm of the chela regularly serrated with a 

 number of closely-set sharp teeth, and the end turned suddenly down, forming a large 

 terminal tooth. Movable arm curved, swollen at tbe base, thin at the distal end, with 

 two large teeth there. Prom tbe side of the movable chela springs a large accessory 

 piece which projects fonvard and downward, is undulated, of varying thickness, and has 

 an almost globular end ; it bears a spine about tbe middle. 



Legs without special features ; the fourth pair considerably tbe longest, and stretching 

 much behind the body. Xo apophyses in either sex ; claws of all legs large and distinct ; 

 no caruncles. 



* I scarcely think that this species can ultimately remain in the genus Lcdajps ; on account of the exceptional 

 conformation of the ventral surface of the male, it may require an entirely new genus ; but I think there are other 

 unrecorded species allied to it which it would he well to investigate before defining such a genus ; the species may, 

 therefore, be provisionally placed in Lwlaps. 



