£. MARCUS 
PosU.^ 6994 
UNIVERSIOADE DE SAO PAULO 
'*p{jey|il0(f§;^3fij(isotia, Ciencias e Lefras 
Sao Paulo, November 1, I954 
Dear Dr. Sclimitt: 
CAiXA POSTAL, 
Sao Paulo 
In reply to your kind letter 
between lat. 
and 9° S. we 
-P I Dave first tried to compile the data 
of the monohs in which the Paludicoles ( "x^lanarians" ) are 
sexuallv mature in Africa. Our entirely immature strains 
^ and 4 h are from march to October. Between lat. 8° 
had a few mature worms among a great number of immature 
ones rom april ^o june ^ In additi on to these facts there are Beauchamp' 
s statements f o:r;Northern_in^oJ^ ours refer to Uele the first and Upem- 
ba i-he latter) rCunda ) , whelr e he had ma^ture specimens in January and 
September, _ the biggest worms among a great number of immature smaller 
ones. Dibble Iiyman, Ihe Invertebrates v. 2 p. I95 thinks that low tempe- 
rature followedby rise of temperature induces a sexual period under 
-aboratory conditions. We have obtained reproductive organs in winter 
with scarce food in Dugesia hyp oglauca. This species however lives in 
rapidly running water and the temperature of our laboratory durine- 
winter months was certainly higher than in the open. One cannot define 
ohe conditions yet which brihg on sexuality. The inner Tropics seem, to b^ 
more favourable fo fission; sevnal worms are rare. Preservation in 
■ S-Icohol 80 /o is re commendable . The animal occur generally under stones 
and on water plants or roots of shore trees in the water, in stagnant 
and running water. We think that terricolous ''planarians'* under rotten 
logs and stones also in damp open and dven dry environment are more 
auspicious - though much less abundant - than the freshwater species. 
The colour of back and belly of th^errestrial worms shaild be noted be^ 
fore dropping the worms into their 'alcohol that preserves them well but 
may draw the colour out. 
With all our due respect and personal sympathy for Rime. Alice 
Pruvot-Pol we cant imagine that she might be able to give*'expert advice" 
for an Opisthobranch MS. Prof. 0 . H. 0 Donoghue, Department of Zoology, 
the University, heading, England is much more indicated, ge has retired 
recently and should have time for your task. He has published many papers 
on Pacific Coast Opisthobranchs. Also Prof. Herbert Engel, Zoologisch 
Museum, Amsterdam, Plantage Middenlaan 53 , and Prof. Hils Pljalmar Odhner 
Haturhist. Museum, Stockholm 50J Drottninggatan 96 are the first living 
authori ties in the realm of Opisthobranchia. Yfe are bloody beginners, 
9uite incipient workers on these animals and by no means authorized to 
put our critical noses into a manuscript probably accomplished w'ith note 
and directions of Prank Mace McParland, an outstanding Scientist. His 
Opisthobranchiate Mollusca of the Branner Agassiz Expedition to Brazil 
are excellent, and we can only hope that we after a long row of years 
can reach his level. I think that we are absolutely unfit for the task 
that you kindly propose, immensely over-estimating our knowledge both of 
the animals and of the bibliography, that the question Pf our trip to th 
United States need not be discussed. 
.<e hope that you have received our letter a few days ago, beg 
gi^ig you kindly to ask Dr. R. T. Abbott for a copy of his paper :A new 
.Florida Species of the Tectibranch Genus Pleurobranchus. Nautilus v. 63 
1949, p. 73 - 78 , pi. 5. 4, ^ -f . 
With our kindest regards to you and your dear family, and also 
to Dr. Bassler and His, 
Very sincerely yours 
/p. 
Cod. 18 
