178 Transactions. — Zoology. 



the species belong to the genus Geoplana, while there is 

 one species of Rhynchodemus, and one of Bipalium. The 

 Bipalium may, however, be certainly regarded as introduced, 

 and it is very likely that the same may be the case with the 

 Rhynchodemus, which was found in the same locality (Albert 

 Park, Auckland), and appears to be identical with an Austra- 

 lian species. One of the species of Geoplana (G. cazrulea var.) 

 is also almost certainly introduced, being also found at Albert 

 Park, Auckland, and being identical with a peculiar variety 

 hitherto known only from gardens in Melbourne and Sydney. 



The remaining seventeen species may, I think, be safely 

 considered as indigenous. One of these, G. sanguinea, is 

 identical with a very common Australian species ; but there is 

 no reason for believing it to have been introduced, as it has 

 been found in various localities, and far inland. Another, 

 G. sulphured var., differs very slightly from a common Austra- 

 lian species. The remaining fifteen appear to be peculiar to 

 New Zealand, though some of them very nearly resemble 

 Australian species, and it must be a matter of opinion whether 

 the slight differences existing are sufficient to justify specific 

 separation. This is particularly true in the case of G. pur- 

 purea, which — externally at any rate — differs from the 

 Australian G. ccerulea only in tint of colour, and of G. 

 subquadrangulata, which combines the characters of the 

 Victorian G. quadrangulata and G. ventropunctata. 



I take this opportunity of thanking the numerous friends 

 mentioned below to whom I am indebted for the gift of speci- 

 mens. As it is proposed to continue these notes as occasion 

 offers, I shall be very glad to receive fresh material from any 

 part of New Zealand. The worms are usually found under 

 logs and stones in fairly moist situations, and may be at once 

 recognized by their flattened shape when at rest, their slimy 

 sticky surface, and their usually bright colours. They may be 

 kept alive for some days in small tin boxes with closely-fitting 

 lids, and packed with rotten wood or damp moss. They must 

 be kept moist, and cardboard boxes should be avoided. When 

 thus packed they can be sent alive through the post with 

 little risk of damage, especially if care is taken to put only a 

 few in each box. I would refer those who may be desirous of 

 obtaining further information concerning the anatomy and 

 habits of land planarians to a series of memoirs on the sub- 

 ject contributed to the Transactions and Proceedings of the 

 Eoyal Society of Victoria, from the year 1889 onwards. 



Geoplana sanguinea, Moseley, sp. 



Ccenoplana sanguinea, Moseley, Quarterly Journal of 



Microscopical Science, n.s., vol. xvii., p. 285 (1877). 



Rhynchodemus testaceus, Hutton, Trans. N.Z. Inst., 



