BY J. J. FLETCHER, M.A., B.SC. 395 



Segmental organs consist of a pair of conspicuous coiled tubules 

 in each segment except the first two or three ; each tubule con- 

 sisting of three well-marked portions, a short and tolerably straight 

 portion, an enlarged vesicular portion, and a long convoluted narrow 

 distal portion. The last two pairs of hearts in xi and xii are very- 

 large. 



Hah. — Mossman River, Cairns District, X.Q. {Macleay Museum). 



This is a remarkable and interesting species, the study of which 

 I intend to take up again later on. Notwithstanding that it is 

 normally intraclitellian it cannot be referred to Megascolex Tempi, 

 (redefined by Beddard) from which it differs among other things 

 in having fewer setse, and spermathecse provided with caeca. On 

 the other hand except for the girdle its characters are paralleled 

 in some or other of the numerous described species of Perichceta, 

 and it should not in my opinion be placed in a genus separate from 

 them, I am inclined to think that it will eventually be desirable 

 to restrict the genus Perichceta to the typical pei'ichsete worms with 

 complete cii'cles of setae and intestinal casca, and to make a 

 separate genus for the pleurochsete worms without caeca like the 

 worm under consideration. At present I regard the latter as an 

 example of what Beddard has already met with in Acanthodrilus, 

 and as strengthening his view that Perrier's classification in so far 

 as it relates to the separation of the Postclitelliani from the 

 Intraclitelliani is too artificial to be ultimately retained. 



Perich^ta Stirlingi, n. sp. 



Five (spirit) specimens from 10 cm. to 20 cm. long, 8-11 mm. 

 broad, comprising from about 130-140 segments. The anterior 

 doi'sal portion of tlie body much darker, but the colours are 

 bleached by the spirit. 



Prostomium depressed, concave below, with a median longi- 

 tudinal groove, and a transverse one at about half the distance 

 from its anterior margin ; divides the buccal ring for about f of its 

 width. 



