118 
Guide to Onychophora. 
Wall-case 
(see plan 
on p. 10). 
Class 4.— ONYCHOPHORA. 
This division of the Animal kingdom is represented by a number 
of forms closely resembling one another in appearance and habits, 
and for a long time known by the general name of Peripatus. In 
recent years the differences between them have been accentuated 
by systematists. Examples are shown of Peripatus from Jamaica, 
of Peripatopsis from the Cape of Good Hope, and of Eoperipatus 
from Malacca ; while figures illustrative of the natural habit are 
given of Peripatopsis capensis , of Eoperipatus viridimaculatus from 
New Zealand, and Paraperipatus from New Britain. It will be 
seen, therefore, that the distribution of this form is extremely wide, 
Fig. 81. 
Peripatus braziliensis. (Natural size ; from life.) 
and, like other widely distributed forms, it gives indications of 
being a very primitive type. 
The history of the discovery of its affinities is one of the most 
interesting pages in the history of Zoology. First discovered by 
Guilding, it was, from its shape and habits, regarded as a slug ; 
later on, attention was directed to the fact that the body consisted 
of a series of successive segments, and the question was hotly dis- 
cussed as to whether it was more nearly allied to the ringed worms 
or to the centipedes : against their alliance with the latter there was 
the weighty objection that nearly all the muscles of Peripatus were 
plain, and not banded. Up to the year 1873 no living specimen 
had been examined by any anatomist; in that year, however, 
during the voyage of H.M.S. “ Challenger,” H, N, Moseley, one of 
