274< ir. N. MOSELEY. 



dorsal surface at all, but that immediately the animal began to 

 crawl the indicating fragment of paper began to move. 



In the species examined by me the ciliary action had a forward 

 direction only in the anterior region of the dorsal surface, in the 

 ])Osterior region the indicator moved always backwards towards 

 the tail. In all regions of the dorsal surface it moved outwards, 

 as was observed by Fritz Milller at the same time as backwards 

 or forwards, and was thus rapidly thrown off at the side of the 

 body, the dorsal cilia apparently subserving especially, this func- 

 tion of the speedy removal of foreign substances from the surface 

 of the body. The ciliary current on tlie under surface of the 

 body flowed directly from before backwards, so that the indicator 

 moved parallel to the middle line of the body. The current 

 Avas much more rapid towards the hinder extremity. 



The animal moved to a large extent by muscular action, the 

 body alternately contracting and expanding during motion. 

 When moving it lifted its anterior extremity often, just as does 

 Bipalium, and moved it to and fro as if to feel or see its way. 



When the anterior extremity of the body was cut off the 

 remainder of the animal seemed still to move with definite 

 purpose, avoiding obstacles and retreating from the light, whilst 

 the cut end was raised and thrust in various directions as if to 

 search for an object on which to climb. 



Eye spots were jjresent in two elongate patches on either side 

 of the head, and scattered along the whole length of the body 

 on its lateral margins. 



A transverse section of the fresh animal was examined in saliva. 

 Cilia were present over the entire dorsal surface of the animal, but 

 are there very short and difficult to see, whereas they are very 

 long and strong on the ventral surface. The free surface of the 

 gastric lining of the digestive canals was ciliated. 



Large cells were seen in the parenchym of the body, which had 

 a finely granular content, with a nucleus and nucleolus. These 

 cells showed active amoeboid movements when isolated by 

 pressure, and at the same time a rapid movement of their granules 

 somewhat like a cyclosis. 



The pigment present was in the form of small rounded masses 

 as in Bipalium. 



Unfortunately no specimens of the geoplana were obtained 

 which had their generative organs fully developed, all the speci- 

 mens being young. 



The muscular arrangement appears to resemble that occurring 

 in the New Zealand Geoplana. There is no ambulacral line, the 

 external longitudinal muscles are evenly developed all over the 

 sole or under surface, and but little over the dorsal region. The 

 lateral organs or primitive vascular system are diffuse and closely 



