THE LEBCHES OF JAPAN. 375 
gated, stretching over three annuli. This series of black spots 
lies in a broad stripe of a lighter colour than the ground- 
colour, which is narrowed at each of the intervals left between 
the black spots. On each side of this broad stripe are two 
narrow, longitudinal yellowish stripes, each of which is 
bounded by two narrow black borders. These lateral stripes 
are interrupted from point to point, so that they do not form 
unbroken stripes. The entire dorsal surface is flecked with 
black, and these flecks are more numerous and larger along 
the yellow margins. The dorsal side of the margin is a clear 
yellow, while the ventral side is reddish yellow. Often the 
yellow margins are very regularly dotted with black, a single 
dot occurring on each ring. A few irregular larger black 
flecks are also seen scattered along these margins. 
“The ground-colour of the ventral side is brick red ; just 
inside the yellow margins of this side are two broad stripes of 
the same dull green as the ground-colour of the dorsal sur- 
face; these stripes are sharply defined against the brick red 
middle zone by an intermixture of black flecks, which for the 
most part blend together. The two suctorial surfaces are 
bluish grey, the oral surface being a little lighter than the 
posterior sucker. The oral surface has a pale margin, which 
is not seen in the acetabulum. 
““The eyes are placed on the Ist, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, and 8th 
rings, as in H. medicinalis. 
* Length = 175 mm. 
“1 found some Leeches Whibh soit in Veeiteia with the 
above description, but which showed a constant difference in 
colour, and which are probably to be regarded as a variety. 
The dorsal surface was less variegated in colour, without the 
lateral stripes, and darker green. The black flecks and stripes 
were the same. The ventral surface is not brick red, but of 
the same green colour as the dorsal side, without the black 
flecks. The dark stripes inside the yellow margins are broader 
and have a larger admixture of black. Large and small indi- 
viduals of both varieties were found, from which we may 
conclude that the difference is not one of age. Both varieties 
