626 MB. G. H. CABPENTEE ON 



On Pantopoda collected by Mr. W. S. Bruce in the neighbour- 

 hood of Franz-Josef Land, 1896-97. By Gteokge H. 

 Caepentee, B.Sc. Lond. (of the Science and Art Museum, 

 Dublin). (Communicated by Wm. Eagle Claeke, E.L.S.) 



[Eead 16th June, 1898.] 



(Plate 46.) 



The only Pjcnogons recorded from the immediate vicinity of 

 Triinz-Josef Land are the few species enumerated in the papers 

 of Heller (1) and Miers (2). The material collected by 

 Mr. Bruce is therefore of considerable value in extending 

 our knowledge of the range of these interesting marine animals. 

 As will be seen by th.e list which follows, eleven species are 

 represented, one of which is believed to be new to science. 

 The remainder will be found excellently described (with full 

 synonymy) and illustrated in Sars's beautiful monograph (4) 

 of the Northern Pycnogonida, whicb now renders the work 

 of identifying these creatures comparatively easy. In the 

 following list the generic and specific nomenclature of Sars 

 has been followed (except in one instance). It seems to me, 

 however, that the number of families into which he has divided 

 the group will need to be reduced. And while in the present 

 state of our knowledge it is advisable to consider the Pantopoda 

 as a class distinct both from the Crustacea and Arachnida, it 

 geems undesirable to break up the class into three orders as Sars 

 has suggested. These orders — Euchelata, Cryptochelata, and 

 Achelata — are founded on the degree of development of the 

 mandibles. But when the general form and organization of the 

 body remains constant, the presence or absence of a particular 

 pair of appendages cannot be held to warrant ordinal separation. 

 One could not make a distinct order of the moths which have 

 lost their sucking-tube, or of the flies in which the mandibles are 

 not developed. And the Pantopoda form such a well-defined 

 and homogeneous group, that it is better to regard them as a 

 class containing only a single order. 



I understand that the material upon which this communication 

 is based will ultimately be deposited in the Museum of Science 

 and Art, Edinburgh. 



