OCR Text |
Show 1896.] FROM THE SANDWICH ISLANDS* 211 boundary segments x./xi., is a single median papilla, upon the middle of each of which is a row, concave forwards, of large pores, which appear to correspond to glands like the capsulogenous glands of Perichcetce. Such glands have already been met with in Acanthodrilids (in Acanthodrilus rosae), another fact among many which show the intimate relationship between the two families. The clitellum occupies segments xiii.-xvi. The nephridia are of the diffuse type. The first septum separates segments iv./v. The next three are inoderatly thickened, and after the last of these come four, which, though not quite so thick, are to some extent strengthened. All these septa, beginning with the first mentioned, are attached to each other and to the parietes by numerous tendon-like muscular fasciculi. These latter extend for a segment or two farther back than that which is bounded by the last thickened septum. The last heart hes in the xiith segment. The dorsal blood-vessel is single. Two stout gizzards immediately following each other lie in segments v. and vi. In segments xi. and xii. are a pair of calciferous glands. The intestine seems to begin in segment xvi. and has a wrell-developed typhlosole, which, however, is not apparent for the first ten segments or so, though it may be possibly present earlier as a rudiment. The sperm-sacs are a single pah- in xii. This, however, may be a question of immaturity. On the other hand, although I detected two pairs of funnels belonging to the sperm-ducts, I could only see the testes of segment xi., and the funnels of segment x. were distinctly smaller than the posterior pair. The spermiducal glands are very long and coiled. There appear to be no penial setae associated with them. The spermaihecce are as usual in viii. and ix. The diverticula near to the external aperture are inconspicuous, but apparently tri- or quadrifid. Hab. Thana, Bombay (1500 ft. and 2500 ft. altitude). Remarks.-Though I do not propose, for the present at least, to create a new genus for this species, it differs in several points from any known member of the genus Benhamia. It comes nearest perhaps to Benhamia inermis, with which it agrees in absence of penial setae and in the position of calciferous glands 14* |