THE ANATOMY AND DEVELOPMENT OF PERIPATUS NOVAE-BRIT ANNIAE. 



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This want has accordingly been met by Pocock (16) who subdivided the genus 

 Peripatus into three generic groups which he regarded as "equivalent to, or indeed 

 of considerably greater value than, the genera of other orders." These are 



I. Peripatus s. str., comprising the Neotropical species in which the legs are 

 furnished with 4 spinous pads and the generative aperture lies between the legs of 

 the penultimate pair. 



II. Peripatoides, comprising the Australasian species, with 3 spinous pads on legs 

 and generative aperture between the last pair of legs. 



III. Peripatopsis, comprising the South African species, with 3 spinous pads on 

 legs and generative aperture subterminal, between a pair of rudimentary appendages. 



I can find no reason to question the validity of Pocock's names except in so 

 far as he ascribes full generic value to them. For various reasons which it would 

 not be profitable to enumerate I prefer to call them subgenera, and with this reser- 

 vation I add to the preceding, the following name for systematic use : — 



IV. Paraperipatus 1 , comprising the New Britain species, with 3 spinous pads and 

 generative aperture behind the last pair of legs. 



The above table of definitions of subgenera has a purely systematic value and 

 does not take into account the remarkable differences in internal anatomy and mode 

 of reproduction. Moreover it might produce the impression that IV differed very 

 slightly from III, whereas in most respects it least resembles the latter. 



1 During the correction of the proofs of this paper, a number of the Comptes Kendus de l'Acad. des 

 Sciences Paris, containing a description by Mons. E. L. Bouvier of a new species of Peripatus from the 

 Gaboon district on the West Coast of Africa, has come to hand. 



This species, which Bouvier calls P. tholloni, possesses certain external characters which indicate that 

 it stands in an intermediate relation between the South African and the Neotropical species. The generative 

 orifice lies between the legs of the penultimate pair as in the latter, but there are only three spinous pads 

 on the legs as in the former. Bouvier states that there are 24 or 25 pairs of legs ; the nephridiopores of 

 the 4th and 5th legs do not lie in the centre of the 3rd spinous pad but proximally outside of it ; the 

 jaws are of the same type as those of the Neotropical species. If the subgeneric names, given above, are 

 to be retained, as I think they should be, then a fifth subgenus will have to be created for this new species. 

 Bouvier does not state definitely what view he takes of the matter. 



[E. L. Bouvier. Note preliminaire sur la distribution geographique et revolution des Peripates. C. K. 

 Acad, des Sc. Paris, T. 126, May 9, 1898, p. 1358.] 



In a second note (Nouvelles observations sur les Peripatus. Ibid., May 23, 1898, p. 1524), the same 

 author describes a new species from a single specimen which was captured in a house at Popayan, New Granada 

 (Colombia). The name of the collector is unknown. Bouvier names this species P. tuberculatits on account 

 of the presence of characteristic wart-like tubercles on the dorsal surface. 



In the position of the generative orifice, and in character of the jaws, it resembles other Neotropical 

 species, but, according to Bouvier, it exhibits the very great peculiarity that the legs, of which there are 

 37 pairs, are provided with 5 spinous pads (except the last 3 pairs). It is much to be desired that more 

 specimens of this species should be obtained. The feet are provided with four marginal papillae, two anterior 

 and two posterior. The jaws, as described by Bouvier, resemble, though differing somewhat from those 

 described and figured by Camerano for P. quitensis Schmarda. 



Bouvier does not quote Camerano's paper. (Lorenzo Camerano. Sul Peripatus quitmtil Schmarda. Atti 

 Acc. Torino, Vol. 32, 1896—7, p. 395.) 



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