ARTHROPOD FAUNA OF THE WEST INDIES. 519 



pair. Neotropical Region and possibly Su- 

 matra Peripatus, Guilding. 



Type, juliformis, Guilding. 



b. The legs furnished with only three spinous 



pads ; the generative aperture behind the 



penultimate pair of legs. 



a}. Generative aperture between the legs of the 



last pair and well in advance of the anus. 



Australia and New Zealand Peripatoides, nov. 



Type, novce-zelandice (Hutton). 

 b^. Generative aperture behind the last pair of 

 fully developed legs and close to the anus 

 at the hinder end of the body. S. Africa... Peripatopsis, nov. 



Type, capensis (Grube). 



In the above brief diagnosis of Peripatus, Gruilding, I have 

 advisedly inserted the words " iu the adult " after the statement 

 respecting the position of the generative aperture, because in 

 some immature individuals of this genus the posterior pair of 

 legs of the adult is not fully developed, and the orifice in question 

 then appears to be between the legs of the last pair. This at 

 least is the case in one specimen of P. Imthurni, with 30 pairs 

 of legs and 29 mm. long, that was collected in Demerara by 

 Mr. J. J. Quelch. That the young sometimes have an imperfect 

 number of legs was first pointed out by Dr. Ernst. Prof. 

 Sedgwick, however, contested this view on the ground that it 

 did not apply to any of his specimens. The Venezuelan 

 naturalist, nevertheless, was not altogether in error, although 

 his generalization from his observations has not proved to be 

 justifiable. 



Although specimens of Peripatus are known from a great 

 many of the W. Indian Islands, as a glance at the following list 

 of names of localities and so-called species will show, our know- 

 ledge of the actual number of the . species represented in the 

 fauna of the Antillean subregion is deplorably imperfect. That 

 the specimens are to be referred to several species is highly 

 probable, but their limits and extent can only be ascertained by 

 an examination of long series of well-preserved examples from the 

 diff"erent islands. It is to be hoped that residents in the West 

 Indies will strive to contribute towards this end by colJectino' 

 specimens of this interesting genus, killing them by drowning and 

 making notes of their colours before immersing them in alcohol 

 for preservation. 



