252 Transactions, 



worm, Glossoscolex giqanteus, in Brazil which when preserved 

 measures 4 ft., and Microchcetus microckcetus from South Africa 

 attains nearly the same length. Naturally the length of a 

 preserved worm depends a great deal on the method of pre- 

 servation and on the preservative. The present specimen was 

 preserved in strong formol, and is much contracted. 



There are about 450 segments, perhaps more. I counted 

 200 in less than half the length, and then estimated the total ; 

 but, as the hinder ones are smaller, this number is only ap- 

 proximate. The segments are much annulated, and those at 

 the anterior end are traversed by longitudinal furrows, cutting 

 up the surface into small rectangular areas. 



Prostomium.—The prostomium and 1st segment are so much 

 furrowed that the limits of the former are not recognisable. 



Chcetrc— There are from 56-60 chaetae per segment in the 

 16th segment and backwards, but in front of the clitellum 

 the number is less ; about 35 were counted on the 10th 

 segment. I was unable to detect any chsetee anterior to the 

 5th segment under a lens ; possibly they are entirely retracted. 

 There is a dorsal and a ventral gap along the whole length of 

 the body, wider anteriorly ; thus, on segment 16 the dorsal 

 gap measures 4 mm. and the ventral 2 mm., but before the mid- 

 body is reached each gap is reduced to 1*5 mm., a width which 

 is retained throughout the rest of the body. 



The clitellum covers segments 13 to half 18 [i.e., five segments 

 and a half). 



Genital Pores, <£c— The male pores, on the 18th segment, 

 are at either end of a transverse glandular slightly prominent 

 area which extends from chseta e to e. The pore itself is small, 

 inconspicuous, about in line with c. 



Copulatory glands (tubercula pubertatis) are three in number, 

 in the form of short, transverse, glandular areas, median, inter- 

 segmental, extending from c to c, and situated at 16/17, 17/18, 

 and 19/20. 



There are two pairs of spermathecal pores, at 7/8 and 8/9. I 

 did not note their position in regard to the chsetse. 



Dorsal pores are present behind the clitellum. 



Internal Anatomy. — There are much thickened septa behind 

 segments 7-13. 



The dorsal vessel is double from the 15th segment forwards 

 to the 8th. The last of the three pairs of hearts is in seg- 

 ment 12. The hearts in 11/12 are connected with the dorsal 

 and with the supra-cesophageal vessel ; those in 10 are smaller, 

 and open out of the latter vessel only. 



The gizzard, in 5, is long. The oesophagus is dilated in 12 



