194 ^'^^ Irish Naturalist. [August, 



Famiia' Herpobdei,i.id^. 

 Herpobdella octoculata (L.) 



ErpobdcIIa vulgaris, Thomps. 



This species bears a certain external resemblance to Hcmichpsis icssellata 

 and like it has eight eyes, but there are some fundamental differences- 

 It differs from the latter and agrees with the true leech and Horse-leech 

 in being devoid of a proboscis and in having red blood. Its eggs are 

 deposited in a cocoon, w^hilst all the Glossiphoniidic fix theirs on to the 

 ventral surlace of the body. 



The colour of this species is somewhat variable. Those I have seen 

 were greenish-red or blackish, but it may also be of a yellowish colour, 

 and it generally has a series of dark cross lines all along the back. It 

 swims well, whilst Hemichpsis tessellata only creeps like a large caterpillar. 

 Mr. Thompson describes it as being " nierr}- as a grig." 



This species is recorded by Thompson from Lough Neagh and from 

 Phoenix Park, Dublin. It also has been taken in the County Antrim 

 and Rathlin Island (H. L. Jameson); at Tempo, Co. Fermanagh (C. 

 Langham) ; at Mote Park, Co. Roscommon (F. and F. Comm.) ; and at 

 Downpatrick (R. Welch). 



[A green land-leech {Trocheta subviridis) growing to a length of six or 

 seven inches and belonging to this famil}' occurs in the south of England 

 and ma}' possibly also be a native of this country.] 



Science and Art Museum, Dublin. 



COUNTY AND VICE-COUNTY DIVISIONS OF THE 



BRITISH ISLES. 



Mr. A. vSomerville, of Glasgow, has favoured us with a copy of a very 

 useful sheet which he has drawn up enumerating the 112 divisions of 

 Great Britain adopted in Watson's "Topographical Botan)%" and the 

 40 divisions of Ireland lately suggested by R. Lloyd Praeger, and giving 

 geographical notes as to their boundaries. The sheet has been i.ssued 

 after consultation with a number of naturalists in the three Kingdoms, 

 and it will prove of great service to all engaged in tracing the distri- 

 bution of any group of plants and animals. We cannot help thinking, 

 however, that it is inconveniently large, and would have been much 

 handier for use if printed as an eight-pnge pamphlet. Copies may be 

 obtained (4./. each, three for Srt'.) from Mr. A. C. Burns, 383, vSauchiehall 

 Street, Glasgow. 



