Benham. — Earthworms from Little Barrier Island. 251 



so far as may be seen by dissection merely. Nevertheless, I 

 believe that these external differences (which concern the 

 position of genital pores, &c.) are sufficient to justify the be- 

 stowal of a new specific name, on the analogy of the differences 

 between species of the European genera Eisenia, Lumbricus, &c. 



Genital Pores. — The male pores, on porophores, are outside 

 chseta b. Each porophore is sunk in a pit (due perhaps to mode 

 of preservation, but suggestive of mobility in life). 



There are two circular tubercula pubertatis on segment 16, 

 one behind chsetse a, which touch mesially. A second pair on 

 the 18th segment are in line a - b, and do not touch. A com- 

 parison with the arrangement in D. beddardi will show that 

 considerable differences exist in regard to the position of these 

 and the following structures in relation to the chaetse. Fur- 

 ther, a well-marked ridge (? due to contraction or shrinkage 

 of the gland), pale in colour, surrounds these four glands and 

 the porophores. This ridge has a somewhat hexagonal form. 

 It is transverse on the hinder margin of 15, extending from 

 b-b ; then, at each end, bends rather sharply backwards to 

 the outer side of the porophores in 17, passing at the level 

 of c ; thence curving inwards between the chaetse c and b on 

 segment 18 to meet its corresponding half on the hinder 

 margin of this segment.* 



The oviducal pores are immediately in front of chseta? a, 

 whereas in the type they lie in front of the gap ab. 



The spermathecal pores, at 8/9, are in line with b (instead 

 of with the gap be), and behind it is a tubercula pubertatis, 

 on segment 9, in line with a. 



Log. — Bank of stream in dense bush. 



3. Diporochaeta gigantea, n. sp. 



A single specimen of this titanic worm was forwarded to 

 me. 



Colour. — White (when preserved in formol), with the an- 

 terior end purplish-grey, and a narrow band of the same colour 

 running along the dorsal surface about as far as the middle 

 of its length. 



Dimensions. — When measured after preservation its length 

 is 990 mm. by 11 mm., but Mr. Shakespear writes me that 

 it measured 4 ft. 6 in. when extended alive. This is a great 

 size for an earthworm, though larger ones are known — e.g., 

 Megascolides australis attains a length of 6 ft. when alive, 

 though its average size is said to be 4 ft. There is a large 



* In the case of D. beddardi, a re-examination of the type shows that I 

 overlooked three medium tubercula on segments 11, 12, and 13, of which 

 I find no evidence in the present species. 



