674 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



Nephelopsis obscura Verrill. 



American Journal of Science, vol. iii, j). 135, 1872. 

 Body much elougated in extension, depressed posteriorly, distinctly 

 annnlated, a little rugose anteriorly in contraction. Length, in ex- 

 tension, 4 to 5 inches ; breadth, 0.25 to 0.35 of an inch. Plead obtusely 

 rounded in front. Ocelli eight : two pairs on the first ring near the front, 

 the inner pair larger, well separated; two pairs on the sides of the 

 buccal segment, small, distant, the upper pair a little below the level 

 of the outer pair of anterior ones. Inner surface of the upper lip very 

 rugose, the sulcations and folds diverging outwardly. Mouth large ; 

 folds of the oesophagus broad, prominent, the outer end pointed, trian- 

 gular. Anal oritice large, with raised borders, situated on the dorsal 

 surface a little in advance of the posterior sucker, which is large, 

 abounded, the disk expanded, and considerably larger than the pedicel. 

 Oitellus much thickened; male organ short, protruded as a low trun- 

 vcate cone, with disk-shaped end. When examined by transmitted light, 

 ;a now of eleven rather large, translucent, pyriform spots may be seen 

 imidtway between the dark intestine and the flattened margin, which 

 :appeared to correspond with the testicles. Color, above and below, 

 dull dark brown, umber-brown, or fuscous, usually with numerous 

 \obscure, narrow, longitudinal stripes of lighter and darker brown. 



Yar. h, maculata. — Form and size nearly as described above. Color 

 •of preserved sj)ecimens greenish yellow or clay-color, with small, irreg- 

 ular s|wts of black scattered over the back ; lower surface nearly plain 

 •cilay-aolor. Ocelli, eight, but often not very distinct in preserved speci- 

 mens. Three small, acute, triangular lobes above and alternating with 

 the upper ends of the cesophagal folds. A specimen from Fire Hole Ba- 

 -sin was much darker ; the black blotches being larger and more or less 

 ■confluent. 



Yar. a. — Madison, Wisconsin, very abundant in the lakes near the 

 <;ity — A. E. Verrill. 



Yar. i. — San Luis Yalley, Colorado, common — Lieutenant Marshall, 

 Wheeler's expedition, 1873; Snake Eiver — Dr. Josiah Curtis; lake near 

 Long's Peak, elevated 9,000 feet — Haydeu's expedition; Cool Spring, 

 -Fire-Hole Basin — Smithsonian Institution. 



This species was first taken in Wisconsin, in May, 1870, when numer- 

 ous egg-capsules were also found attached to the stones along the shores. 

 These were yellowish in color, broad-oval or elliptical, terminating in a 

 point or mucro at each end, flat below, smooth and slightly conve:5i 

 above, with a thin margin. They were 5'"'".5 to 8""" long by 3""".5 to 

 ^mm i)i.Qrj(L Each one contained from five to ten eggs, or young leeches ; 

 some of the latter were already leaving the capsules ; these were 5""" 

 or more in length, and even at this age, though pale in color, they had 

 the characteristic form of the adult, and the eight ocelli were distinctly 

 visible. 



