156 

 29. Sphseronella dispar n. sp. 



(PI. IX, fig. 3 a— 3 k.) 



FEMALE. A large specimen (fig. 3d) 1 ) which had only laid three ovisacs was 

 •69niiii. long and -79111111. broad, thus being broader than long; two other specimens without 

 ovisacs were of the same shape and size, whereas a fourth specimen (fig. 3a), which had laid 

 about a score of ovisacs, was much smaller, 49 mm. in length and -38 mm. in breadth, thus 

 being longer than broad. The head is not defined from the trunk at all, and the area 

 bearing the mouth-appendages is surrounded by a soft membrane ; the usual chitinised parts, such as 

 frontal border and lateral borders, are altogether wanting (fig. 3f). Antennulae short, 2-jointed, 

 with about three pretty short setae. Antennae wanting. The setae of the mouth-border I 

 have not been able to discern with certainty. Maxillulas small, with tolerably short prin- 

 cipal branches, and additional branch wanting. Basal joint of the maxillae smooth; the 

 connecting membrane between the first and the second joint without chitinous taps; second 

 joint distinctly separated from the third, which is comparatively long and slender, and termi- 

 nates in a few fine setaceous branches. Maxillipeds of medium size, but appear to be weak; 

 the basal joint being provided on its anterior side with several irregular rows of very short 

 and fine hairs; second and third joints fused into one rather clumsy joint with a somewhat 

 sinuous outline, the distal spine being a little broader than in the preceding species; the 

 last joint terminates bluntly and its end is surrounded by a row of numerous, very short 

 and fine setae. The sub-median skeleton is much reduced. The trunk is naked. The genital 

 area is rather small (fig. 3 d), much broader than long (fig. 3 g) ; the solid chitine forms a 

 kind of semi-circle which opens towards the front, its sides are narrow, and its posterior 

 part broad. Genital apertures comparatively large, much curved, anteriorly parallel, and 

 not far apart, the space between them solidly chitinised. The whole ar-ea naked; caudal 

 stylets wanting. 



MALE. It is middle-sized or pretty large in proportion to the female (fig. 3 b : 

 fig. 3d and fig. 3a); its length is '21 mm. to ■22 mm. Seen from below (fig. 3h), its outline 

 comes close to that of S. decor ata, but its front is very different. Head and trunk of about 

 equal size. The front much produced, its lateral margins converging strongly a long way, 

 till the distance between them is a little shorter than the diameter of the mouth, after which 

 their anterior extremity expands into a disk, which is a little larger than the mouth, and 

 thus is situated on a short peduncle. The larger part of the free margin of the disk is 

 furnished with a row of slender, almost setaceous processes, and on the ventral surface of the 

 disk, towards its base, we see a small chitinous ring; on its inner side this ring is provided 

 with four expansions, which turn towards its centre and constitute the surrounding of a 



!) The mouth-appendages (as is partly shown in the drawing) were placed in an abnormal position 

 by pressure. 



