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Show 346 MR. F. E. BEDDARD ON EARTHWORMS [Mar. 16, maintained so far as concerns the Patagonian and Cape species. I have pointed out in m y Monograph of the Oligochaeta the distinctness of the South American Acanthodrlli from those of N e w Zealand. The latter all agree in having nephridia which alternate in position from segment to segment, the external orifices being now in front of the dorsal, now in front of the ventral setae; besides this the nephridia show certain differences of structure according to their position. The only exception to this statement is found in the two closely allied species A. annectens and A. paludosus. These species, however, are different in other particulars from the typical Acanthodrlli and should perhaps be placed in a genus apart. The Cape species, however, are so like those of South America, that I have more than once in preparing the foregoing descriptions doubted whether I had not before m e identical forms from these widely distant localities. Though this is not, I believe, the case, there can be no doubt of their affinity. APPENDIX. On a new Genus of Earthworms belonging to the Family Eudrilidae. Among a number of Earthworms which I have recently received from Lagos, "West Africa, through the kindness of the authorities at K e w , were two which appear to be representatives of a new genus. This makes the seventh genus of Eudrilidae known from the western side of the African continent, the other six being Preussia (Mich.), Paradrllus (Mich.), Hyperiodrilus (F. E. B.), Heliodrilus (F. E. B.), Lyhlodrllus (F. E. B.), and Alvania (F. E. B.). It is interesting to note that the genus which I propose to describe in the present communication is nearly akin to several of these and showrs no special points of affinity to any East African genus. The distinctness of the West African from the East African Eudrilidae is the most salient fact in the distribution of this family within the continent. But although there are no genera known which range right across Africa, it is not possible to divide off the western from the eastern forms. The two subfamilies iuto which I have thought it admissible to divide the Eudrilidae occur on both coasts. It is noteworthy, however, that, so far as is known, those genera like the present (Hyperiodrilus, Heliodrilus, Alvania and Lyhlodrllus) which have several gizzards more posterior in situation than is usual are all of them inhabitants of West Africa. But this one character, though curious, can hardly be set against the three or four wdiich I have used in the subdivision of the family. This new species, for which I propose the name of IRIDODRILUS ROSEUS, is a smallish worm of three inches in length. It has no pigment in the skin, or so little as not to interfere with the |
