LAND-PLANARIANS AT CAMBRIDGE. 



BY 



S. F. HARMER, M.A. 



A Land-Planarian {Rhynchodesmus terrestris 0. F. Miiller) 

 was first described as a native of England by Rev. L. Jenyns 

 (Observations in Natural History, London 1846), who discovered 

 it in abundance in the woods of Bottisham Hall, near Cam- 

 bridge. In the present instance, a search (made by kind per- 

 mission of R. B. Jenyns, Esq.) in the same locality resulted in 

 the discovery of a few specimens; and it was ascertained subse- 

 quently that R. terrestris is by no means uncommon in Cambridge 

 (King's College, Botanic Gardens). It may readily be found 

 by examining the damp lower surface of logs of wood which have 

 been lying for some time on the ground. Since the first discovery 

 of the animal in England, it seems to have been very seldom 

 found : but from its wide distribution in Europe generally and 

 in England, and from the fact that it is not very likely to be 

 found unless it is specially looked for, it is probable that this 

 animal is much commoner than is usually supposed. Several egg- 

 capsules of R. terrestris were discovered on May 15, on examining 

 fragments of rotten wood among which some specimens of the 

 animal had been kept for a week. 



