186 
NOTE ON A GNATHOBDELLID LEECH [LIMNAT 18 SP. ?] 
FROM ANGOLA. 
By W. A. HARDING, B.A. 
I owe to Prof. G. H. F. Nuttall and Mr A. E. Shipley the oppor¬ 
tunity of examining three specimens of a West African leech sent by 
Dr C. Wellman from Benguella, Angola. They were described as land 
leeches ‘ taken four or five miles from any water’ and were preserved in 
alcohol. A brown, vermiform object protruded from the mouth of the 
largest specimen. 
Transverse sections of this object revealed muscular tissue but gave 
no further indications of its nature. Many leeches [e.g., Trocheta ; 
Aulastoma, Moq. Tand.] are known to leave the water voluntarily in 
search of food such as worms and molluscs, and it may be assumed with 
some certainty that this specimen possessed similar habits and had been 
killed in the act of devouring its prey. 
Diagnostic characters. 
The body resembles Hirudo in form, except that, anteriorly, it tapers rather 
more rapidly. The following measurements were taken : 
Largest specimen : 51'4 mm. long and 9 7 mm. in width. 
Smallest specimen : 26 mm. long and 5'GO mm. in width. 
The acetabulum is circular and of moderate size. 
The colour is brownish-grey without any trace of pattern or coloured spots, 
rather paler on the ventral surface. There is an ill-defined, median, dull yellow 
tract on the dorsal side, following the course of the alimentary canal. 
Eyes 10 ; arranged, as in Hirudo, on the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th and 8th annuli 
[Fig. 2]. The first three pairs are distinct, the fourth pair less apparent, the 
fifth pair almost imperceptible. They are best seen on the smallest specimen. 
Annuli 102 ; counting from the first pair of eyes to the acetabulum. The 5th 
and 6th [the buccal annuli of Whitman] are united ventrally to form the first 
ventral ring; the 6th and 7th are united ventrally to form the second ventral ring 
[Fig. 1], The annuli have a shallow, median wrinkle, parallel to their sides, which 
