388 Mr. W. A. Harding on a 



XLVII. — Note on anew Leech (Placobdella asoyptiaca) from 

 Egypt. By VV. A. Harding, M.A., F.L.S. 



I AM indebted to Professor Jeffrey Bell * for the opportunity 

 of examining a number of specimens of a leech ectoparasitic 

 on the mud-tortoise [Trionyx triungvis), sent by Cajit. Flower 

 from Cairo, which proved to be examples of a species hitherto 

 unrecorded. The material, which was preserved in alcohol, 

 was unfortunately in a state most unfavourable for deter- 

 mination, and consequently the analysis of the annulation 

 given below is to be considered, as far as the extremities of 

 the bod}^ are concerned, as subject to revision. The following 

 is a brief diagnosis of the new species, for which, as it is the 

 first of the Glossosiphonidse to bo described from Egypt, I 

 })ropose the specific name cegyptiaca. 



Body (somewhat contracted in alcohol) ovate-oblong, flat- 

 tened ; tlie head-region not distinct ; the rings smooth ven- 

 t rally, and covered dorsally by numerous, low, irregularly 

 disposed papillae. 



Colour faded in alcohol to a more or less uniform brownish 

 grey without any trace of pattern. 



The rings composing the body tend to resolve themselves 

 into groups, separated by somewhat deep grooves, and corre- 

 sponding to each segment or somite. In the middle poition 

 of the body the first ring in each group was found to contain 

 a ganglion of the ventral chain, and thus, in the absence of 

 colour-markings or conspicuous papillee, the complete somite 

 was seen to be composed of three rings. In each complete 

 somite the groove separating rings 2 and 3 is greater than 

 that between rings 1 and 2, wdiilst that between the rings of 

 contiguous somites is still more marked. 



Rings 71 in number. 



(b'ow/fes v.-xxiii. complete with three rings; xxiv.-xxvii. 

 biannulate, the first ring of xxiv. being divided at its margins. 



Eyes 2, conspicuous, near together, situated on ring 3. 



^w<e/io?' SMc/er imperforate; the mouth piercing its ante- 

 rior lip and nearly terminal. 



Genital apertures separated by two rings, the male orifice 

 being situated between somites xi. and xii., the female be- 

 tween the first and second rings of xii. 



* [On receiving the draft of this paper from Mr. Harding I suggested 

 to him that it would be well to let me communicate with Capt. Flower 

 before sending the paper for publication. In return Capt. Flower wrote : 

 " Speaking from recollection, the leeches have no colour and no pattern ; 

 these are the onl}^ leeches I have ever seen in Egypt, and it is impossible 

 to say when we can obtain more specimens. Trionyx is very rare in this 

 part 'of Egypt.'' The student must therefore be satisfied with what 

 Mr. Harding is able to tell him.— F. J. B.] 



