Benham. — On Earthworms. 135 



forms a conspicuous octagonal area on this 18th segment. 

 The oviducal pores are separate, and lie within a pale area, 

 contrasting well with the yellow glandular substance of the 

 clitellum. Spermathecal pores are invisible, but sections show 

 that there are three pairs on the furrows 5/6, 6/7, and 7/8. 



NepJiridiopores in line with the fourth chaeta from below. 



Dorsal pores commence behind the 7th segment, and are 

 evident along the entire length of the body. 



Internal Anatomy. 



Alimentary Tract. — The small gizzard is quite definite in 

 segment 5 ; it has very thick walls, and a narrow lumen; its 

 external diameter, however, is not greater than that of the 

 oesophagus. The latter is provided with four pairs of lamellate 

 sacs (oesophageal glands) in segments 12, 13, 14, and 15. 

 The intestine commences in segment 17, and is without a 

 typhlosole. 



Reproductive System. — There is but a single pair of testes 

 in segment 11, and a single pair of sperm-sacs in the 12th, 

 but the preceding segment is filled with loose sperms. The 

 sperm-duct passes straight backwards along the body-wall at 

 the level of the nephridiopores as far as the 18th segment, 

 where it bends to traverse this segment at right angles to 

 its former course. The spermiducal gland is elongated and 

 tubular, passing backwards into the 21st segment, where its 

 free end is slightly coiled. It joins the sperm-duct at the 

 above-mentioned bend. There are no special penial chaetae. 

 The ovaries and ducts are normal. The spermathecse are 

 three pairs, in segments 6, 7, and 8; each is an ovoid sac, 

 without a distinct duct and without a diverticulum. 



Affinities, <&c. — The genus Diporochceta is Australian. 

 Of the twenty-six species hitherto known, all but one 

 (D. intermedia, Beddard,* which is a native of New Zea- 

 land) occur in Victoria, New South Wales, and Queensland. 

 The occurrence of a second species in New Zealand is thus 

 of some interest. The present species differs from D. inter- 

 media in several points, chief amongst them being the single 

 pair of testes and of sperm-sacs, the possession of three pairs 

 (instead of four) of spermathecas, and the 16 instead of 

 75 chastae per segment. In fact, only one other species 

 possesses a single pair of male organs — viz., D. maplestoni, 

 Spencer, f from Victoria. This has, however, two pairs of 

 spermathecae and fewer chaetae — viz., 8 to 14 per segment 

 — and fewer anteriorly than posteriorly. D. xoalhallce, 

 Spencer,]: has one pair of sperm-sacs in segment 12, but 



* (1), p. 380, and (3). 

 t(2),p. 64. 

 I (1), p. 15. 



