ONYCHOPHORA OR PROTOTRACHEATA. 319 
In its possession of trachee and nephridia this type is an 
interesting connecting link; in many ways it seems to be an 
old-fashioned survivor of an archaic stock. There are about 
half a dozen genera very widely distributed. 
The Onychophora are very beautiful animals. Prof. 
Sedgwick says: “The exquisite sensitiveness and continu- 
ally changing form of the antehnz, the well-rounded plump 
body, the eyes set like small diamonds on the side of the 
head, the delicate feet, and, above all, the 
rich colouring and velvety texture of the 
skin, all combine to give these animals an 
aspect of quite exceptional beauty.” They 
are shy and nocturnal, with a great dislike to 
light. They seek out damp places under 
leaves and among rotting wood. They feed 
on insects, which they catch by the ejection 
of slime from the oral papille. The slime 
is also squirted out when they are irritated. 
To their shy habits their persistence is 
possibly in part due. They are able to 
move quickly, somewhat after the fashion of 
millipedes, especially like Scolopendrella. 
They have been seen to climb up vertical 
glass plates. When at rest or irritated they 
coil up in a circle. 
; Fic. 167.—Ex- 
Like some other archaic types, ¢.g. Dipnoi, the ternal form of 
Onychophora have a very wide range of distribution, Peripatus,— 
which may be briefly indicated :—Ferdpatus (tropi- After Balfour. 
cal America and tropical Africa) ; Hoperipatus (Indo- N 5 
Malay) ; Perzpatoddes and Ooperdpatis (Australasia) ; “gapleleee 
Opesthopatus (Chili and South Africa) ; Paragpertpatus 
(New Britain); Perzpatopszs (Central Africa). 
A more Detailed Account of Peripatus 
Form.—The body suggests an Annelid or a caterpillar, but, apart 
from the appendages, there is no external segmentation. There is a 
clear dorso-median line. Over the soft skin are numerous minute warts 
with small bristles. The mouth is ventral and anterior; the anus 
terminal and posterior. 
Appendages.—The first are the large, ringed antennz ; then follow 
the sickle-like jaws in the mouth cavity; a little farther back are two 
oral papillee from which slime is exuded. Then there are the 14-42 
stump-like legs, each with two terminal chitinous claws. 
