FLAT-WO RMS. 
47 * 
Suborder Dendroccela. 
The accompanying illustration shows one of these worms ( Stenostomum 
monocelis) in process of giving rise to a second individual. In the upper half of 
the figure (o) is the mouth, and (s) the auditory 
organ of the parent; the coiled tube (v) being 
part of its excretory apparatus, and ( e ) some 
eggs. In the lower half (o) is the mouth, and 
(s) the auditory organ of the newly-forming 
individual. The division may begin successively 
at several places on the body before the last and 
oldest bud is attached, so that it results in the 
formation of a chain of segments lying one 
behind the other. 
The members of this division differ from 
the preceding in having the intestinal canal 
tree-like, or divided into a number of branches. 
The mouth, which is situated on the inner 
surface, leads into a muscular and flexible 
pharynx, capable- of protrusion like a proboscis. 
The body is broad and flattened, usually broader 
in front than behind, and generally bears a pair 
of eyes upon what may be termed the head. 
In the genus Polycelis— the species of which 
occur in meadows and stagnant water—there 
are a large number of eyes, the broad front end of 
the body being bordered with from thirty to 
fifty of these organs. On the other hand, 
Geoplana subterranea, which lives in sandy and 
clayey soil, in company with earth-worms, upon 
which it feeds, is entirely devoid of organs of 
sight. Many members of the group are in¬ 
habitants of the land and fresh water, and are 
collectively termed Planarians. These are often 
objects of considerable beauty, being both 
graceful in movement and decked with various 
colours. The two-striped Geodesmus bilineatus, 
for instance—which has been found in hothouses 
in Europe, where it has been doubtless intro¬ 
duced from the tropics with exotic plants—is a 
dull yellowish colour above, but is ornamented 
with two reddish brown bands, extending on 
each side of the back, and meeting near the 
front and hinder end of the body. Another planarian not infrequently introduced 
into the conservatories of Europe belongs to the genus Bipalium, this species 
SINGLE-EYED TURBELLARIAN, Stenostomum 
(much enlarged). 
