LAND PLANAEIANS FROM LOBD HOWE ISLAND. 47 



Tins species is marked by its very distinct bands of dark coloiir along the edges 

 of the body. The latter is much flattened, broad in the middle and tapering to both 

 ends ; there is no difference in the thickness of the body at any part, and the lateral 

 margins are very distinctly marked. Whilst the dorsal surface is the same in all the 

 specimens the ventral varies. Figm-es 12 and 13 serve to show the two extremes. 

 The important dark bands consist (1) of two, one on either side the median line and 

 (2) of two, one close to each of the lateral margins each of these falling into the 

 lateral band before the posterior end is reached. 



In addition to these there may be present two more bands one on each side 

 intermediate between those already described. In addition to varying in number 

 ventrally the thickness of the bands may vary considerably, with the exception of the 

 outermost one which always remains thin. Thus in figure 13 the specimen drawn 

 has four thick bands and the two lateral thin ones, whilst in figure 12 the specimen 

 figured has only two thin median and the two thin lateral ones. In both cases the 

 dorsal surface resembled the one drawn in figure 11. 



Rhynchodenius grandis, sp. n. (PI. VI., Figs. 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19.) 



Dorsal surface with the ground colour fawn-brown, marked witli streakings and 

 spots of darker brown. The anterior end with the margins light-coloured and two 

 dark bands, one on either side, which gradually become less marked posteriorly. 

 They enclose between them at the front end a median light line, and the streaks 

 show a tendency to form two dark lines one on either side the median line which 

 remains light-coloured. Eyes two, one on either side in the lateral light lines close 

 to the anterior somewhat bluntly pointed extremity. Ventral surface of a lighter 

 fawn-yellow colour, spotted with a prominent median line of dark spots. Pharynx 

 35 m.m. from the posterior end. Genital opening 16 m.m. from the posterior 

 end. Length when alive 6-7 inches, width f-| inches. 



Locality. — Lord Howe Island. (Coll. T. Whitelegge.) 



In spirit specimens the lateral edges of the body become curved towards the 

 ventral surface so as to produce a distinct concavity ventrally, but this only extends 

 for a short distance. 



The specimen figured (PI. VI., Figs. 14, 15) represents the animal very much 

 contracted after the action of spirit, but this is probably one of the largest examples 

 of the genus yet known. Some two or three of our Australian land-planarians of 

 the genus Geoplana, notably G. dendyi and G. hoggii, reach a length when crawling 

 equal to that of R. grandis, but the width of the body when fully expanded is 

 nothing like so much as five-eighths of an inch. 



