TWENTY-FOURTH ORDINARY MEETING. 293" 



Nominations for Officers for the ensuing year were then 

 made. 



Mr. Frank T. Shutt, B.A., read a Paper on " The Anatomy 

 of the Wood-Louse," illustrated by diagrams and specimens. 



The following is an abstract : 



NOTES ON THE ANATOMY OF THE WOOD-LOUSE.* 



This paper opened by discussing the various classifications of the 

 Crustacea by Huxley and others, and concluded its remarks upon 

 this subject by adhering to the classification which places the 

 Oniscidae as a family of the Isopoda, the latter being ranked as an 

 Order of the Edriophthalmia. 



A general description of the anatomy of the Isopoda followed, 

 which points out the most characteristic feat\;res that serve to 

 distinguish the forms of this order from those of related orders, e.g., 

 respiratory function of lamellate abdominal feet ; absence of Cephalo- 

 thorax, etc. 



The life-history of the members of this Order was then briefly out- 

 lined, and it was shown that although the vast majority of them 

 were marine, many were fresh water types, and others, as the 

 Oniscidae (to which the Wood-Louse belongs) were terrestrial. The 

 fact was also noted that such terrestrial forms were always found 

 in damp places, and therefore that moisture was necessary for the act 

 of respiration. The family of the Oniscidae, while somewhat isola- 

 ted, is yet a widely spread gi'oup, being found in both Hemispheres, 

 and as f%r north as Greenland. 



The anatomy of the parts and appendages was then fully described, 

 the descriptions being accompanied by drawings made by the Autho)-. 



The segments of the head, thorax and abdomen, as to their shape, 

 colour, etc., first received treatment, and then a more minute account 

 of the attachments followed. 



With regard to the appeiadages of the Head, the most important 

 features to be noticed are — the possession of a single pair of Antennas. 

 These are the Antennae proper. This seems to point to a high degree of 

 development in the Oniscidae, and in conjunction with the fact that 

 the mandibles possess no palps causes them to resemble some of the 

 Myriapoda. The eyes are sessile, black, slightly convex, and aie 



*This paper was awarded the McMurrich Medal, Univ. Coll., Toronto, 1885. 



