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Show 1903.] NEW SPECIES OF EARTHWORMS. 217 does not incline me to describe in detail the cases observed, which were, moreover, not many. I can confirm Michaelsen's statement that there are no genital or any specially modified setae in any region of the body. In the external sexual characters 1 find some little differences from the description of Michaelsen, and it is partly on this account that I am disposed to regard my specimens as belonging to a new species. The clitellum is perhaps a little more extensive, xiii.- xviii. or even xix. ; but that is a slight difference. I find that the pores of the paired spermathecae are situated definitely on the border-line of segments xiv./xv. and not upon xiv. They are, however, in the line of the ventral couple of setae. On the other hand, 1 agree with Michaelsen in placing the pores of the spermiducal glands upon segment xvii. just in front of the ventral setae of that segment. As to the location of the genital papillae, Dr. Michaelsen and I have not found the same conditions in the specimens studied. In my specimens, the constant rule appears to be the presence of two pairs of papilla? of which the most anterior are on segment xvii., just behind the ventral seta? but on a line with the outermost setae of the couple ; on the following segment, the xviith, there is a precisely similar pair also behind the ventral setae, but in this case corresponding to the innermost seta of the couple. The papillae are fairly conspicuous, and are to be noted upon the cuticle when stripped off. The area is slightly raised and is studded with the mouths of large glands. Corresponding to the papillae internally, are glands to which I shall recur in describing the anatomy. These papilla? were never absent. I could discover no nephridial pores; but I imagine that this species, like Pareuch'ilus stcignalis and some other Pareudrilacea, will turn out to possess a ramified system of nephridial end-tubes in the integument. In any case the nephridia, viewed internally, appear to be paired structures. As to the alimentary tract, I find a gizzard far forward, in the sixth or seventh segment, and I have not been able to find calciferous glands. The last heart is in xi. The funnels of the sperm-ducts are in x., xi. The two pairs of sperm-sacs, in xi., xii., are tongue-shaped. As to the female generative system, my observations do not altogether agree with those of Michaelsen ; but it is no disparagement to that excellent and accurate observer to suggest that the condition of his specimens may possibly have led him into some slight error. Otherwise I must place my specimens not only in a new species, but in a new genus. The ovary I have not been able to find at all. This in an Eudrilid is not of course surprising; for as a rule the ovary disappears early, having transferred its cells to the egg-sac. On the other hand, while it is unlikely that I could have missed so conspicuous an object as the large ovarian sac figured by Michaelsen, it is equally unlikely that he was misled by bulging septa or other structures into stating the presence of such a sac communicating with the egg-sac. It seems to me |
