1914-] R= H. Whitehouse : Land Planarians. 457 



Bipalium gigantcum, n. sp. 

 (Plate xxix, figs. 4 — 6.) 



Eleven specimens of this species were obtained from three 

 different localities, viz., the Rotung district, Kobo, and Dibrugarh 

 in Assam ; it thus appears that it has a fairly wide distribution. 

 In many particulars, it bears a close resemblance to B. dihangense , 

 and was occasional!}^ found side by side with that species. 



The animals are large, the smallest measuring 103 mm. in 

 length and 7 mm. in breadth, while the largest attained the length 

 of 217 mm. and a breadth of 15 mm.; these measurements are 

 those of spirit-preserved animals, and thus the living creatures 

 must be capable of extending to a considerably greater length. 



The colour of the dorsal surface resembles that of B. dihan- 

 gense and is an even dull brown; in the majority of cases, 

 however, the brown is considerably altered by the presence of an 

 underlying dark bluish colour ; in fact the appearance is strongly 

 suspicious of a dark slaty blue colouration covered by a secreted 

 brown mucus, 



Ventrally, the colour is markedly' different from B. dihan- 

 gense; it is an unmistakable blue grey, and lighter in shade than 

 the blue of the underlying tissues of the dorsal surface. The 

 under surface of the head is generally a little paler than the 

 trunk. The ambulacral surface is much paler than the rest of the 

 ventral surface, and forms a very prominent ridge to the extreme 

 posterior ; the anterior end of the ambulacral surface, which is 

 flat, by reason of the shades of colour, presents very markedly 

 the form of an arrow head (see fig. 6); true, the same thing is 

 shown in other species, but is not nearly so pronounced as in 

 this one. 



In the majority of cases, the mouth is situated near the 

 middle of the body, but its position is variable and it may He 

 nearly two-thirds from the anterior end. In many specimens, the 

 pharynx was protruded through the mouth as a creamy frill, and 

 in some instances had also been forced through the body wall on 

 the dorsal surface ; this suggests that the pharynx is of enormous 

 size. The genital aperture is usually about one-third the distance 

 between the mouth and the posterior end of the body, though 

 this distance may be increased to one-half. 



Note on Bipalium smithi (v. Graff). 



With regard to Bipalium giganteum, it appeared from v. 

 Graff's description of Bipalium smithi, reported from Darjiling, 

 that the two might be identical; but a careful examination of the 

 type specimen in the British Museum disposed of this Ukelihood. 

 It may not be out of place to add a brief account of this 

 species which refers to the complete specimen in the British 



