510 



with this view, nor do I now think it at all likely that the original 

 P. Leuckarti of Saenger was identical with my P. insignis, though I 

 myself suggested the possibility some years ago. I reserve the discus- 

 sion of this very difficult question of synonymy for a future occasion 

 and in the meantime I would ask whether it is not possible for some 

 Zoologist in Germany to re-investigate Saenger's type, which is said 

 to have been in the possession of Prof. Leuckart, and about the real 

 characters of which great uncertainty exists? 



I now wish to point out the fact that there are no less than three 

 Australasian species which are distinguished by the presence in the fe- 

 male of a very conspicuous organ — the ovipositor — and (in two species 

 at least and probably in the third also) by the very remarkable egg- 

 laying, a habit which is altogether unknown in other species ofOnycho- 

 phora. Under these circumstances I feel justified in proposing the new 

 genus Ooperipatus for the reception of these three species , with the 

 following diagnosis. 



Ooperipatus n. gen. 



Oviparous Onychophora. The genital aperture in the 

 female at the endofa prominent ovipositor which lies bet- 

 ween the legs of the last pair. Legs with three spinous pads. 



I propose to include the following species in the genus: 



1) Ooperipatus oviparus Dendy, with fifteen (15) pairs of walking legs 

 and an accessory tooth on the outer blade of the jaw. This species 

 is characteristic of the colony of Victoria (Australia) but is has 

 also been recorded by Mr. Steel 4 from New South Wales and I 

 have in my collection specimens from Queensland. 



2) Ooperipatus insignis Dendy, with fourteen (14) pairs of walking 

 legs and no accessory tooth on the outer blade of the jaw. This 

 species appears to be characteristic of Tasmania but also occurs in 

 Victoria. 



3) Ooperipatus viridimaculatus Dendy, with fourteen (14) pairs of 

 walking legs and no accessory tooth on the outer blade of the 

 jaw; distinguished from 0.. insignis by the pattern of the skin. This 

 species occurs in the neighbourhood of Lake te Anau in the South 

 Island of New Zealand. Mr. Fletcher 5 has also recorded the oc- 

 currence of a fourteen-legged species (which he provisionally 

 identifies with this) from the North Island of New Zealand. 



4 Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales for 1897. p. 124. 



5 Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales (Abstract, 

 April 25 th , 1900). 



