THE LAND PLANARIANS OF NORTH AMERICA, 

 WITH A NOTE ON A NEW SPECIES"- 



Since calling attention to the rediscovery of Khyncho- 

 demiis sylvaticiis described by Leidy in 18 51^ the species 

 has been found in abundance not only in Gambier but 

 also at Urbana, O., and Meadville, Pa. The material from 

 which the species was originally described was placed at 

 the disposal of Girard by Leidy for study in connection 

 with the former's paper on the planarians of North 

 America." Inasmuch as the specimens were in the pos- 

 session of Girard at the time of the death of Leidy^ and 

 were given him for use as he deemed best, it is quite 

 probable they are in the possession of some of the European 

 museums, if in existence. Thus far it has been impossible 

 to locate them, however. 



Two specimens of a much larger species approximating 

 20 mm. in length and uniformly dark blue in color have 

 also been taken in Gambier. For this the name Khyn- 

 c hod emus atrocyaneus is proposed. 



The land planarians of North America and the adjacent 

 islands may be tabulated as follows: Geoplana nigrofusca 

 (Darwin), Mexico and South America (common). Geo- 

 plana stolli Graff, Guatemala (a single specimen known). 

 Placocephaljis keivense (Mosley), cosmopolitan in hot- 

 houses, original habitat unknown (common). Khyncho- 

 demus sylvaticiis Leidy, East. U. S. (common) . Khyncho- 

 demus atrocyaneus Wuhon, Ohio, central U. S. (?) (two 

 specimens known) . Amblyplana cocker elli Graff, Ja- 

 maica (a single representative). 



Land planarians occur under slightly decayed pieces of 

 board, sticks, etc., particularly in grassy plots of old 

 orchards, or lawns, usually in association with snails, the 

 young of which they superficially resemble. The anatom- 

 ical structure of the Ohio forms is being studied. 



^Ohio Nat., p. 2J4, 1904. 



^Ann. Set. Nat. Hist. ZooL, p. 145, 1894. 



^L. c, p. 15 3. 



♦Reprinted from Science, N. S., vol. 3 J (1912), p. 940. 



