478 AUSTRALIAN HIRUDINEA, III., 



With a view to settling this point (Professor Benham not 

 having specimens of our form), and also fixing the anatomy of 

 Limnohdella australis, I have attempted some work in that 

 connection. 



I might also mention that Grube has described a form under 

 tlie name Hirudo novemstriata, from Rockhampton(New Holland), 

 and this no doubt is identical with LimnohdeUa australis. 

 Leaving out of consideration the extreme lateral marginal regions, 

 we get really nine different coloured regions, and, no doubt, this 

 was the colouration-character that Grube described as " novem- 

 striata." 



Colouralioyi, — Mr. Steel's specimens resemble in dimensions 

 those of Hirudo mauiana, but approach almost exactly Schmarda's 

 diagram as regards pattern. These specimens had been killed in 

 ail excellently extended condition, and preserved in a very suit- 

 able manner for external examination in the same manner as that 

 recommended for land-planarians. The specimens obtainable 

 from chemists in Sydney approach much more closely to Benham's 

 H. maidaaa, in regard to the greater importance of the median 

 pigment- band, and also the relatively greater importance of the 

 dark pigment-bands. At the same time, these specimens show a 

 much greater development as regards thickness and breadth. 

 This difference, however, is very readily explained as being due 

 to distension by blood and also to contraction. 



Becker's diagrams give a much better representation of the 

 leech than does that of Schmarda, the latter showing the 

 individual in a thoroughly extended condition. 



The measurement given by Grube for the posterior sucker far 

 exceeds the normal size, the measurement in the large number of 

 specimens I have examined Ijeing very seldom more than 6 mm. 

 and frequently less. Schmarda's diagram, from a general stand- 

 point, is misleading. One finds some (but very few) specimens 

 which are ornamented, in regard to the dorsal linear pigment 

 areas, in the proportion denoted in Schmarda's figure. On the 

 other hand, the great majority of individuals which I have 

 examined, show a dorsal median pigment-line of much greater 



