ZOOLOaiCAL RKSULTS OF A TOUR IN THE FAR EAST. 
ECHIUROIDS FROM BRACKISH WATER, WITH THE DESCRIPTION 
OF A NEW SPECIES FROM THE ANDAMANS. 
By B. Prashad, D.Sc. 
[With plate XI.] 
INTRODUCTION. 
Dr. Aniiandale in his tour in the Far East obtained from the Tale Sap a single 
specimen of the genus Thalassema, Gaertner. This specimen was entrusted to me for 
description. The specimen was identified as T. sabinum, Lanche.ster (7), the type 
specimens of which were obtained by the " Skeat Expedition" from the same lake. 
I.ranchester's description of the species is quite inadequate and I have therefore found 
it necessary to describe the anatomy of the form in detail. I have also taken this 
opportunity to describe the comparative anatomy of the two other oriental species 
which like T. sabinum have been found in brackish water. 
In the collection of the Zoological Survey of India ' I discovered another 
interesting specimen of the genus Thalassema. This was collected by Mr. S. W. 
Kemp, Superintendent, Zoological Survey, in the Andaman Islands. A description of 
it is also included here, as it appears to be a new and undescribed form. 
At the time of the working out of the Echiuroids of the Chilka Lake and the 
Gangetic Delta (2) the authors had a very limited material of the species T. 
dendrorhynchus and T. branchiorhynchus, and hence many interesting details of the 
anatomy were left untouched. Since then, thanks to the untiring energy of the 
officers of the Survey, a large number of specimens of T. branchiorhynchus has been 
collected at Chandipore near Balasore in Orissa by Dr. F. H. Gravely. All this 
valuable material, together with the type specimens of the new species, was placed at 
my disposal by Dr. Annandale, to whom my best thanks are due for the same and for 
kindly allowing me to take this valuable material with me to Lahore on the occasion 
of a recent holiday. Most of the work was completed in the Zoological I^aboratory 
of the Government College, Lahore, and I am deeply indebted to my friend and 
former professor Lt. -Colonel J. Stephenson, D.Sc, I. M.S., professor of Zoology and 
Principal, Government College, Lahore, for allowing me the use of his Laboratory and 
making me comfortable in every way throughout my stay. 
I am also highly obliged to Mr. T. Southwell, F.Z.S., A.R.C.S., Director of 
I Unfortunately most of the Echiuroid collection of the Zoological Survey of India is lying interned in Germany 
owing to the war. 
