Benham. — Earthworms from Little Barrier Island. 253 



and 13 ; the lining is papillose, and there are no definite glands. 

 The intestine commences in 16, and is without a typhlosote. 



The intestine contained pieces of rotten wood measuring as 

 much as j-tV in. in length. 



Reproductive Organs. — There are two pairs of testes and 

 funnels, in the usual positions, but those in segment 10 are much 

 the smaller, and perhaps functionless, as there is only a single 

 pair of sperm-sacs, which lies in segment 12. 



The prostates are straight,* subcylindrical, and occupy 

 three segments. In this particular specimen the apex is 

 directed forwards and lies in segment 16, hut perhaps this is 

 merely an individual peculiarity. 



There is no definite duct. The gland retains nearly the 

 same diameter up to the body-wall, when it suddenly diminishes 

 as it dips into the muscles. Bundles of muscular fibres pass up 

 from the body-wall and spread over the surface of the gland 

 to form an imperfect sheath round its lower end. 



No penial chseta? are recognisable. . 



There are two pairs of spermathecae, in segments 8 and 9. 

 Each is an ovoid pouch with a very short duct, not distinctly 

 marked off from the sac. A small pyriform diverticulum opens 

 into the duct close to the body-wall. The sac presents a 

 peculiarity that I do not remember noticing in any other worm. 

 Along both the mesial and lateral surface of the sac is a distinct 

 muscular ridge ; that on the lateral surface is larger and longer, 

 extending right up to the apex, whereas the other one only 

 reaches about half-way up. At the lower end these longitudinal 

 muscle-bands spread out on the body-wall. These two ridges 

 are very pronounced structures. 



Excretory System. — The worm is micronephric, and herein 

 differs from the majority of species of Diporochccta. In the 

 genital segments the close-set little loops give a velvety ap- 

 pearance to the inner surface of the body-wall ; but posterior 

 to the 18th segment they become limited to a single row of 

 small tubules running along the middle of the segment. But, 

 although the nephridia are thus minute and multiple, the re- 

 mains of a meganephric condition persist throughout the worm 

 in the form of a pair of large funnels which project forwards 

 from each septum. Each funnel is nearly as long as a segment 

 — i.e., in the contracted condition of the worm it reaches the 

 preceding septum ; it is thus readily visible. This funnel is 

 V-shaped, with long parallel limbs, each consisting of an axis 

 of vascular connective tissue, around which is arranged a single 

 row of ciliated columnar epithelial cells, in a spiral fashion. 



* In the type of the genus, D. intermedia, they are coiled. 



