. In Munich, several years ago, I saw a fine panorama representing i 
No. 407-] A SINGULAR ARACHNID. | 849 
considerable interest from the standpoint of ecology and geo- 
graphical distribution. Although there is an unmistakable 
general similarity, due to similarity in climate and soil, between 
the southern European and the Texan faunas, this does not 
extend to identity of species in any case of which I am cogni- 
zant, except that of Koenenia. One is at first tempted to sup- 
pose either that the arachnid is a native of Texas (and possibly 
also of Mexico and the West Indies) and has been introduced 
into Sicily and southern Italy with the century plant (Agave) 
and the prickly pear (Opuntia), or that, conversely, the arach- 
nid has been introduced into America from Europe! It 
would seem, however, that we cannot accept either of these 
alternatives, but are forced to the conclusion that Koenenia is 
indigenous to both continents on account of the associated forms, 
for we can hardly assume that the species of Iapyx, Campodea, 
and Scolopendrella have also been imported? It is certainly 
more reasonable to suppose that all these forms have a wide 
and disconnected geographical distribution as relicts of a 
very ancient fauna which have survived, like many cave forms 
(e.g., the singular blind Menobranch Amphibians, Proteus and 
Typhlomolge), because they have inhabited conditions subject - 
to little or no change during enormous periods of time. A strik- 
ing instance analogous to that of Koenenia has recently | been | 
brought to light in the form of a very primitive. Thysanuran, 2 
Projapyx styli ifer. This Spese an Toyran — wa 
1These plants, ire since the discovery of America, are now so widely peus = 
distributed in southern Italy that they form an essential part of the landscape. us 
in the days of Constantine. In this painting the artist, who had evidently s studied - 
Rome _ 
the modern Italian landscape, had been misled into the amusing anachronism of —— — 
filing out a corner of his canvas with campe of Agaves ivan _Opuntias ! = 
above-suggested introduction of Kai li 
from the fact that a species of Schizonotus, a genus da inue | Tartarids inhabit- 
ing Ceylon and Venezuela and somewhat resembling Kenenia in structure and - 
habits, has been iotroduced into “Europe * — with exotic pipats gar ee 
Pocock. TheG 
and Solifugz, Natasa’ Sols, vol. xiv, No. kn March, 1899, pP. 213-231, 21 Ds 
*'The American species of t these Symphyla and Thysanura ura are certainly very 
similar to the y yet be proved to be identi- 
Cal in the light of study: as thorough: as that which has been been devoted to the ded : 
| 9nony o sonis oet B EE e uu cu cis er 
