BY THOS. STEEL. 115 



a minor character, for the specimens agree exactly in every other 

 respect. 



Typical specimens in Australian Museum; register number Gr, 

 1532. 



Durinsj my study of the land planarian worms, I have 

 experienced the greatest trouble in clearing up doubtful points of 

 identity owing to the published descriptions being in many cases 

 quite inadequate, and the types not being available for reference. 

 With a view to doing what I can to obviate this state of matters 

 for future students, I have deposited in the Australian Museum, 

 Sydney, the types of all the species described in this paper. I 

 have further placed in the same institution as complete a set as I 

 am able of typical specimens of previously described Australian 

 forms, which I hope to supplement from time to time, and I 

 would appeal to naturalists whenever possible to follow a similar 

 course. I am also sending a similar series to the British Museum 

 of Natural History in order to supplement the collection already 

 placed there by other workers in Australia. 



Part ii. — Collection and Prkservatiox. 



It will be unnecessary for me to say anything about the 

 situations in which land planarians are to be met with, as this 

 matter has already been fully dealt with by Messrs. Fletcher and 

 Hamilton, and by Pi'ofessors Dendy and Spencer in their various 

 papers. When collecting I usually carry a few small tin 

 boxes or wide-mouthed bottles, the covers or corks of which fit 

 fairly close but are readily removed. Into these I put some fresh 

 green leaves or damp moss, which permits of the worms being 

 carried for considerable distances without injury. During very 

 hot weather I have found it a good plan to carry the boxes in a 

 little wallet, each box being wrapped in a cotton rag kept moist 

 with water. By keeping the boxes cool, this prevents the 

 destruction of the worms by the heat. 



In cool weather no such precautions are necessary, and I have 

 kept the animals alive amongst damp moss in a cool place for 

 weeks at a time. Planarians are creatures which cannot be 



