THE VICTOBIAN LAND PLANARIANS. 33 



11. Geoplaiia mUiiahoni, Dendy. 



(PL IV., Fig. 1.) 



Since the publication of my previous memoir I have met with several interesting 

 specimens of this species at Fern Tree Gully. The ground colour in the living worm 

 was bright canary yellow on the dorsal surface, paler on the ventral. Some 

 specimens had (like the original type) only the two stripes on the dorsal surface, both 

 broad and black, or nearly so. Others had, in addition, a much narrower median 

 dorsal stripe of the same colour, and yet others were intermediate between these two, 

 the median band being very narrow and discontinuous. The paired stripes are, 

 in this species, the characteristic and constant ones, and not, as in G. mcdiolincata 

 the least persistent ; they are always much more prominent than the median 

 stripe. The position of the genital and peripharyngeal orifices in the Fern Tree 

 Gully specimens agree in one specimen with that described for the type, though 

 in anotlier the peripharyngeal aperture is almost central. I do not set much value on 

 slight differences in this respect, as the position of the apertures must depend to a 

 certain extent upon the state of contraction of the specimen. 



Professor Spencer* records the species from the country lying between 

 Marysville and the source of the Yarra along the Wood's Point Road. 



I have also a slight variety of this species from between Liljdale and Seville. 

 The colour when alive was bright yellow all over except for the brown anterior tip 

 and two strong dorsolateral stripes (one on each side) of brown starting from the 

 anterior tip and dying out about one-third of the waj' down the body, and also a very 

 short, thin, median dorsal stripe of brown starting from the anterior tip 

 but soon dying out. When alive the specimen measured about 60 mm. 

 in length. In spirit it is rather broad and flat and the peripharyngeal aperture is 

 situate slightly in front of the middle of the body and the genital aperture not very 

 far behind it, much nearer to it than to the posterior end of the body ; obviously, 

 however, the anterior half of the body is much more contracted than the posterior, 

 thus bringing the apertures forward. 



The occurrence of the Fern Tree Gully variety with the median stripe is 

 interesting as showing how an even-striped form may be derived from an odd-striped 

 form by disappearance of the median stripe, and as pointing out a possible relationship 

 between G. mediolineata (and its close allies), and G. m^mahoni. 



* Loc. cit. 



