44 
W. J. DAKIN, D.SC., F.L.S., F.Z.S. : 
The Onychophora of Western Australia, By W. J. Dakin, 
D.Sc., F.L.S., F.Z.S. J (Read August 12th, 1913.) 
Three species of this most interesting group of invertebrates 
have been described for Western Australia, namely — 
I. Peripatus Leuckarli, var. occidentalis, syn. Peri- 
patoides occidenialis. 
II. Peripatmd.es gilesii, Spencer. 
III. Pen paiotdes woodwardi , Bouvier. 
Of these three species, Peripatoides occidenialis was the first to be 
made known. The species was described by Fletcher, from 
specimens collected by a Mr. Lea at Bridgetown several years 
ago (Proc. Linn. Soc. X.S.W., 1895 (2), 10). The diagnosis reads 
as follows : " P. I.euckarti, Sang, var. occidentalis, var. nov. 
With 15 pairs of walking legs ; outer jaw blades without an 
accessory tooth." Beyond a brief reference to the colour, no 
description was given, and, unfortunately, no figures accompanied 
the paper. Several years after this date, specimens of another 
Peripatus were collected in W.A., and a number of individuals 
from Armadale were sent by Mr. H. M. Giles to Professor Baldwin 
Spencer. Spencer considered these specimens to belong to a 
new species and in a short paper read September, 1908, but not 
published until March, 1909, named the species Peripatoides 
gilesii, after the collector,* * 
In the year 1905, that is to say two years before the specimens 
were sent bv Giles to Spencer, the German expedition of Michaelsen 
and Hartmeyer captured a number of Peripatus at Lion Mill, 
in the Darling Range. These specimens were sent to Bouvier, 
and his description, with an account of the anatomy, was published 
in the reports of the expedition in 1909.4 Bouvier named the 
species Peripatoides woodwardi. The appearance of both the 
papers of Spencer and Bouvier in the same year precluded either 
worker from seeing the publication of the other. 
After consulting both these papers in order to name certain 
specimens captured in almost the same district as the above, 
it seemed probable to me that both Peripatoides gilesii and 
Peripatoides woodwardi were one and the same. Further in- 
vestigation has made this probability an actual fact. 
My first specimens were collected at a spot not far from 
M undaring Weir. The animals are to be found under small logs, 
and broken branches during the winter and spring months. These 
specimens from Mundaring agreed with Bouvier’s description of 
Peripatoides woodwardi. In order to be more certain of their 
+ Professor of Biology in the University of Western Australia. 
* Proc. Royal Soc. Victoria, Vol. XXI (New Series), Part II, igog 
+ Die Fauna Sudwest Australiens. Band 1 Jena 1908-g. 
