KEPORT OX THE SLUGS. 431 



II. SPECIES FROM THE LOYALTY ISLANDS. 



1. Veronicella willeyi, sp. nov. (Pis. XL. — XLI. Fig.s. 1 — 14). 



Habitat. Lifu, Loyalty Islands. Numerous. 



The colour of this species is exceedingly variable, the majority of specimens were 

 a dirty yellowish-brown dorsally, irregularly blotched with black, which markings become 

 more closely set laterally, forming a broken line ; there is a well-marked median dorsal 

 yellowish-browu line, while the extreme anterior and posterior portions of the body are 

 a dark bluish-black. The two specimens figured (PL XL. Figs. 1 and 3) show the dark 

 and light coloured forms. The hypnotum and foot-sole are almost white. 



Length (in alcohol) 48 mm. ; foot-sole 5 mm. broad ; hypnotum G mm. broad ; 

 female generative orifice on the right side 1'.5 mm. from the foot-sole, 27"5 mm. from the 

 right lower tentacle, and 20'5 mm. from the posterior end of the body. 



I have pleasure in associating with this interesting species the name of Dr Willey. 



ANATOMY. 



I. Digestive System. 



The mouth is somewhat oval shaped. The buccal cavity calls for no special 

 mention. The salivary glands are profuse and lie at the anterior part of the pharynx, 

 and upon the dorsal side of the buccal cavity. The right gland is slightly smaller 

 than the left one, a feature, I believe, common to all species of Veronicella, in 

 consequence, as pointed out by Simroth', of the anterior portion of the male organs 

 restoring symmetry. To the naked eye the separation between the two glands is scarcely 

 distinguishable ; under the microscope, however, each is seen to consist of a series of 

 fine dendritic tubes, each of which terminates in one or more small, flat, sac-like 

 bodies (PI. XL. Figs. 6 and 7). The whole mass is very compact and forms a conspicuous 

 yellowish-white body above the hinder portion of the buccal cavity and the anterior 

 portion of the pharynx (PI. XL. Figs. 5 and 6). 



The oesophagus is short, giving place to a wide, thin-walled crop (the fore-stomach 

 of Simroth and others) which becomes constricted just in front of the stomach 

 (PI. XL. Fig. 4). The disposition of the intestinal loops is very much the same as in 

 V. hennigi, Simr. (I.e. (1) Taf. XLix. Fig. 12), though in form and structure the digestive 

 tract is more closely related to V. hedleyi, Simr. 



We may conveniently divide the intestinal canal into four loops, the first extending 

 from the buccal cavity to the stomach, the second from the stomach to the anterior 

 lobe of the liver, the third lying superficially in the liver, from the anterior lobe, and 

 making a somewhat [-shaped bend, which, on leaving the liver, becomes loop number 

 four, this terminating at the cloacal chamber. The third loop lies dorsal to the crop 



• T. c, p. 86G. 



58—2 



