The Craspedosomatidse of NortJi America. 39 



dotte Cave, Bradford and Marengo Caves, Crawford Co. (Drs. 

 Cope and Packard and Mr. Bolhnan). 



We have examined about seventy specimens from Wj^andotte 

 and Marengo Caves. The proportions of the sexes are about 

 equal. U. S. Nat. Museum, Nos. 87, 420, 421 and 438. 



Dr. Cope remarks : " This animal inhabits the deepest re- 

 cesses of the numerous caves which abound in Southern Virginia, 

 as far as human steps can penetrate. I have not seen it near their 

 mouths, though its eyes are not undeveloped, or smaller than 

 those of many living in the forests. Judging from its remains, 

 which one finds under stones, it is an abundant species, though 

 rarely seen b}^ the dim light of a candle eA''en after considerable 

 search. Five specimens only were procured from about a dozen 

 caves." 



In Indiana, on the contrary. Dr. Packard found specimens in a 

 small grotto, and that these were paler and had more rudimentary 

 eyes than those collected in the Senate Chamber of Great Wj'^an- 

 dotte Cave, three miles from daylight. 



According to Dr. Packard* the eyes of this species have no neu- 

 ral connection with the brain, or rather, he failed to find an optic 

 nerve after cutting over 400 sections. The origin of the speci- 

 mens sectioned is not stated, and the conditions may differ in the 

 species, as does the development of the e3'es. Dr. Packaixl con- 

 sidered P. carterensis to be a variety of the present species, but 

 we are unwilling to believe that its well-developed ej^es are fuuc- 

 tionless. 



As might be expected in a species limited in habitat, but with 

 an extensive range there seems to be a large amount of variation 

 in nearly all the characters, even those of the genitalia. It will 

 not be surprising if a further study shows that some of these forms 

 are sufficiently differentiated to merit specific recognition. While 

 our material was abundant it was all alcoholic, and the structure 

 of these animals is so fragile that a thorough examination can 

 scarcel}^ be made without the destruction of the specimen. 



The median process separates it from the other American 

 genera, and indeed from all others. The genitalia of Graspe- 

 dosoma rawlinsi, however, have two similarly placed slender 

 processes suggestive of homology. 



*The Cave Fauna of North America, p. 113. 



