§ The Irish Naturalist. January, 



the nervous system is deeply coloured. Tliere is a pair of 

 ciliated grooves running backwards from the side of the 

 head, between the first and second pairs of eyes. 



The vascular system is easily seen, and of simple 

 arrangement. It consists essentially of three longitudinal 

 vessels which meet just behind, and dorsal to the anus. 

 In front, the}^ meet just behind the brain, and from the 

 wide junction thus formed, a prominent loop runs round 

 the margin of the head. 



The base of the stylet is oval and massive ; the stylet 

 is slender, and slightly shorter than the base. There are 

 two reserve stylet pouches, each containing 4-6 stylets. 



Geonemertes chalicophoka, von Graff. 

 1879. V. Graff : Morphol. Jahrhuch, vol. v., p. 430. 



Only a single species of terrestrial Nemertine has been 

 recorded from Europe. It was found in the Palm-house 

 of the Botanic Gardens at Frankfort -on -Main, by von 

 Graff, who described it under the above name. It has 

 apparently not been observed since. 



On December 17th, 1908, Mr. Halbert found numerous 

 specimens under flower-pots in several hot-houses at the 

 Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin. 



Eight species of land Nemertines have been described, 

 and of these, seven live in tropical coimtries. The first 

 one was found in the Bermudas, and the other six species 

 live in the Pacific Islands, New Zealand, and Australia. 

 It is therefore very improbable that the present species is 

 indigenous in Europe, and it has probably been introduced 

 into its two known habitats with exotic plants. Nothing 

 is known as to its true home. Von Graff found it in the 

 soil of a vessel containing Corypha anstralis, R. Br., a plant 

 indigenous to eastern Australia. 



The Irish specimens are 5-8 mm. long, and of a faint 

 yellowish colour. There are two pairs of eyes, the anterior 

 pair being larger and nearer together than the hind pair. 

 There are two stylet pouches, each containing five reserve 

 stylets. 



All the specimens were females, and no male of this 

 species has ever yet been observed. 



