Miscellaneous. [5 
The vertebra are known from isolated and connected specimens 
which indicate a larger number than usual of rib-bearing presacral 
vertebrae, which appear to be not fewer than nineteen, and may have 
numbered twenty-six. The sacral vertebrae are deeply cupped, and 
the sacral ribs are developed as in Nothosaurus and Parciasaurus. 
The sacrai ribs form part of the articular face of the first sacral 
vertebra. The pelvis is imperfectly known; the ihum is not so 
extended as in Dicynodonts, and conforms to the type of Phoco- 
sdurus, which is regarded as Theriodont. The pubis and ischium 
are united together on the Dicynodont plan, but are only moderately 
developed. 
The scapular arch is completely known, and is formed of scapula, 
coracoid, and pre-coracoid as 1n Dicynodon and Parciasaurus. The 
hamenus and bones of the fore limb were relatively short, and only 
fragments have been preserved which appear to be referable to ulna 
and radius. 
The hind limb is known from several examples of the femur, 
which resembles that of Pareiasaurus in the proximal end, but at 
the distal end is more like the type described as Saurodesmus. 
The tibia is known from its proximal and distal ends; it has a 
general resemblance to that of Pareiasaurus, but is more slender. 
These types are regarded as constituting a distinct group, named 
Deuterosauria, which is in many respects intermediate between the 
Placodontia and Theriodontia, but in skull structure appears also to 
approach Nothosaurs and Plesiosaurs.—From the Proceedings of 
the Royal Society, June 10th, 1893 
On a Terrestrial Leech from Chili. By M. Raruascn Brancuarp. 
The discovery of a species constituting a transition between two 
groups of animals which were previously quite distinct deserves to 
attract in a special manner the attention of naturalists. This is 
why we think it our duty to report to the Academy the existence of 
a Hirudinean which is clearly intermediate between the Glossi- 
phonide and the Hirudinide. 
The animal in question is a land-leech, which is distributed in 
the south of Chili, between latitudes 40° and 43°, in the provinces 
Valdivia and Chiloe. In 1871 it was briefly described by Grube 
under the name Hirudo brevis ; but it may be said that this author 
failed to recognize any of the remarkable characters which the 
creature exhibits and which give it a high importance from the 
point of view of the genetic connexion of the different species. 
This leech cannot be retained in the genus Hirudo as it has recently 
been defined by the investigations of Whitman and ourselves. We 
create for it the new genus A/esobdella ; this name serves to recall 
the fact that the species which we are discussing is intermediate 
between two different groups. In future, therefore, it should be 
designated Mesobdella brevis, Grube. 
As contracted by alcohol the animal is 16 millim. in length and 
45 millim. in width ; the posterior sucker is circular and 2 millim. 
in width. The body is pyriform in appearance, as in the majority 
of the Glossiphonidee, but it is not so decidedly flattened as in the 
