37 2 Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. 



one species. Mr. Gr. H. Wailes, who was working the district at the same 

 time, called my attention to any Water-bears which occurred in the material 

 he collected, and thus extended our knowledge of the local distribution. 

 Subsequently Mr. Wailes sent moss from the island of Inishturk, and from 

 a salt-marsh on Clare Island, both of which gave good results, the salt-marsh 

 yielding the type of one of our new species (Macrobiotus richtersii). 



Lastly, the school-children of Westport collected quantities of moss, 

 which were sent to me by Eev. J. 0. Hannay, m.a. The Canadian species 

 Macrobiotus occidentalis occurred only in that collection. 



Notes on the Species. 



Eehiniscoides sigismundi (Schultze). (Plate II., figs. 8a-8b.) 

 Habitat. — Among the sediment washed from sea-weeds, under Achill 

 Bridge ; one example. 



The Irish example shows some small differences from those figured by 

 Schultze (28) and Eichters (24). Length 230^, exclusive of fourth legs. 

 Body soft, not plated, with fine pellucid papillae on back and sides. Claws nine 

 on first leg, eight on second and third, seven on fourth. Two pairs of palps 

 near the mouth. Spine at base of head (corresponding to seta a of Echiniscus) 

 large, about 25/x long, with a palp at its base. Spine on third leg with thick 

 base. Fourth leg with a very large soft palp near its base. Web joining the 

 claws for nearly half their length. Movements very sluggish. 



Echiniscus intermedins Murray. (Plate I, figs. 4a-4b.) 



Habitat. — Castlebar, among Cinclidotus from the margin of a little lake 

 near the railway station ; several examples. 



The Irish animal agrees with the Canadian form of the species in almost 

 all details. The palps near the mouth, and also the papillae bearing the 

 mouth-cirri, are very short and broad. The finding of the species alive 

 permitted fuller study of the parts of the mouth and of the texture of the 

 plates than had been previously possible. The teeth possess " bearers " 

 (fig. 4a), as was first noticed by Herr Thulin, of Lund, Sweden, who recently 

 found the species. It is the only Echiniscus known to have bearers. 



The plates bear two kinds of dots, — one kind very small, uniform, and 

 pellucid, — the other larger, irregular, and looking like pits (fig. 4b). The 

 larger dots appear to be superficial ; and it is necessary to focus deeper to see 

 the others. 



Distribution. — Australia, Hawaii, Canada, Sweden, Ireland 



