202 THE GENUS PERIPATUS. 



A single specimen was found at Breves, on the Island of 

 Marajo, at the mouth of the Amazon, by Mr. J. C. Branner 

 (No. 37). No details are given. 



Peripatus Sumatranus. 



A single specimen of Peripatus, stated to have come from 

 Sumatra, has recently been described by Dr. K,. Horst (No. 38). 

 The evidence that the specimen was actually found in Sumatra 

 is not, however, conclusive. Dr. Horst states that it was found 

 in a bottle containing insects from East Sumatra. The name 

 of the finder is not given, and there is no evidence to show 

 how the specimen got into the bottle. Considering the fact 

 that this is the only specimen of Peripatus ever reported from 

 the Oriental region, it will be prudent to suspend our judg- 

 ment as to the authenticity of the locality given by Dr. Horst. 

 The specimen has twenty-four pairs of ambulatory legs, and is 

 25 mm. in length. The papillae are constricted as in the Neo- 

 tropical species, and are apparently on the cylindrical type. 

 Dr. Horst describes them as "appearing to consist of a trun- 

 cated cone, bearing on its top a small cylinder provided with a 

 spine." The legs have four pads, the generative opening is 

 between the legs of the penultimate pair. All these are Neo- 

 tropical characters. The anus is not q;uite terminal. Colour 

 is dark blackish brown ; the ventral surface is paler, greyish. 

 " Some small white spots scattered on the dorsal surface, but 

 they seem only to be produced by the loosening of the cuticle 

 from the top of the papillae." The foot carries only two papillae, 

 one on the anterior and one on the posterior face. This is 

 unique so far as my experience of Peripatus goes. The pedal 

 groove is absent from the two posterior legs asinP. Edwardsii 

 The antennae have forty-seven rings. 



I think that there can be no doubt that this is a distinct 

 species. It is the only specimen hitherto recorded from the 

 Oriental region, and it seems a fact of extreme interest that it 

 should resemble the Neotropical species more than any other. 

 It is a great misfortune that Dr. Horst was not able to examine 

 the jaws and generative organs. 



