324 MR JAMES MUERAY 



and may be subjected to pressure, in order the better to study the details. This state 

 has a curious resemblance to rigor mortis. All vital functions appear to be totally 

 suspended ; the animal is rigid, and it is impossible to tell whether it is alive or dead. 

 From this apparently lifeless condition a few taps on the coverslip will often rouse it 

 to full activity. No example of the Antarctic Tardigrada revived in this way. The 

 eggs were in better condition, owing to the protection afforded by their shells, but none 

 of them hatched or showed any movement of the contained embryos. The genera 

 Macrobiotus and Diphascon were very abundant, two species of the latter and several 

 of the former being found. Eggs of Macrobiotus were also plentiful. Echiniscus, on 

 the other hand, was very scarce, only some half dozen examples being found, which did 

 not differ conspicuously one from another, though no two were quite identical. 



Fifteen forms in all were studied. Though these were clearly distinct, they were 

 not in all cases recognisable. Only two could be identified with any certainty as known 

 species. Three others were so abundant and in such good preservation that they could 

 be pretty fully studied, and are here described. Some of the others are as certainly 

 distinct from any known species, but the examples being imperfect, it is not considered 

 desirable to name them. 



All, however, are figured, so that it will be easy to identify them when further 

 opportunities occur to study the fauna of the region. 



Three of the eggs figured may belong to three of the species incompletely described. 

 If this duplication has occurred, the number of distinct species observed will be 

 reduced to twelve. 



Genus Echiniscus. 



The genus was very poorly represented, only some half dozen examples being found, 

 all but two being incomplete skins, and in such bad condition that it is impossible to 

 describe them, though some of them have peculiarities which lead me to think they are 

 new species. The two well-preserved examples were identical, and are, I think, of an 

 undescribed species. 



No species belonging to the Arctomys group (having no setae or spines except the 

 six on the head) was found. All four forms observed had some dorsal or lateral pro- 

 cesses besides those on the head. 



Echiniscus meridionalis, n. sp. (Plate I. fig. la to id.) 



Specific Characters. — Small, plates ten, arrangement normal ; three median plates, 

 each plate of the first pair with two setse, lateral short, dorsal long, each plate of second 

 pair with two short spines, one lateral, one dorsal, a long incurved seta on each of the 

 anal angles (i.e. where tail-piece joins lumbar plate) ; lumbar plate trifoliate, facetted, 

 fringe on last legs of few (about five), very broad spines ; inner claws with small decurved 



