Smith. — Notes on Ncto Zealand Earthworms. 125 



Acanthodrilus rosse, Beddard. Quart. Jour. Mic. Sci., 

 vol. xxx. 



This species is not uncommon in the Ashburton district. 

 In habits it is similar to A. novce-zealandice in being more 

 active than annectens, antarcticus, dissimilis, or 'multiporus, 

 and it is clearly distinguishable from any of these species by 

 its rich-brown colour. In fully-matured individuals the cli- 

 tellum is well marked, and yellowish-white in colour. Like 

 A. novoe-zealandia the species is able to secrete, and lubricate 

 its body with, a clear slimy fluid, which probably acts as a 

 distasteful deterrent to its enemies, and also to enable it to 

 penetrate more easily into the soil. The slimy secretions of 

 both species are scentless and almost tasteless, although I 

 may say that I have experienced a very slight tendency to 

 acridity in the fresh secretion of A. novce-zealandice. The 

 specific characters of A. rosce are here given, as defined by 

 Beddard : — 



" While A. antarcticus might easily be confused, on a super- 

 ficial view, with A. multiporus, the present species is by no 

 means unlike A. novce-zealandice or A. dissimilis. Indeed, the 

 external characters of the spirit-preserved specimens hardly 

 permit the species to be distinguished from one or other of 

 the above-named; but the internal characters enable A. rosce 

 to be recognised as a perfectly distinct and well-marked 

 species ; there is no possibility of confounding it with either 

 A. novce-zealandice or A. dissimilis. The largest specimen 

 measured about Sin. in length. The colour of the spirit- 

 preserved specimen is a rich-brown, darker upon the clitellar 

 segment, and paler ventrally. The prostomium completely 

 divides the peristomial segment. The setae are paired ; the 

 pairs are, at any rate in the posterior region of the body, 

 equidistant ; this region of the body is quadrangular in sec- 

 tion, the setae occupying the four angles. The clitcUuiu 

 occupies segments xiv.-xix. (inclusive), as in A. novce-zea- 

 landice. The position of the atrial pores calls for no special 

 remark, as they are identical in position and appearance with 

 those of A. novce-zealandice . 



" With regard to the internal anatomy, there are two prin- 

 cipal points of difference from A. novce-zealandice : firstly, the 

 entire absence of specially-thickened septa. I have dissected 

 a tolerably large specimen, and compared it with a specimen 

 of A. novce-zealandice of about the same size; there was a very 

 marked discrepancy in the relative thickness of some of the 

 anterior septa ; and this difference could not possibly be 

 accounted for by the unequal size of the two individuals. The 

 second anatomical difference between A. rosce and A. novce- 

 zealandice is in the form of the spermathecae, which, as is 



