160 Transactions. — Zoology. 



smaller than usual, being liin. to 2 in. in length, but agrees 

 throughout with this species. 



Now, a reference to Button's description shows that he 

 had both Ncodrihcs and L. rubelhis before him, for he says, 

 " Colour reddish" — as is the case for the latter worm — "or 

 olivaceous-green " — which is the tint of the former. The 

 position of the clitellum is said to be "irregular, com- 

 mencing in any segment from 10 to 20." This is quite in- 

 accurate for either worm, but points to Neodrilus. " The 

 male genital pores" — i.e., the spermathecal pores, as we now 

 know them to be — "are on the 9th segment." This evi- 

 dently refers to Neodrilus, in which worm they are conspicuous 

 between segments 7/8, whereas in Lumbricus they are scarcely 

 visible.* The vulvae — by which term is meant the male pores 

 — are stated to be " on the two last segments of the cli- 

 tellum," which evidently refers to Neodrilus. His descrir)- 

 tion of the prostomium may apply to either worm. The fact 

 that " the olivaceous specimens occur in the bush " is per- 

 fectly true, while L. rubellus is common in the gardens, &c., 

 in the town. 



As Hutton mixed two distinct worms, it is impossible to 

 retain his specific name, so that L. ca^npestris must disappear, 

 and monocystis will remain as the specific name of Neodrilus. 



3. Lumbricus levis. 



There are two bottles so marked : (a) " From Hampden " ; 

 (b) "From Dunedin." 



(a.) This bottle contains only one worm, collected at 

 Hampden; it measures If in. long. The four chaetse on each 

 side are nearly equidistant, or, if a be the ventralmost chaeta, 

 the distance a-b = c-d, while the distance b~c is slightly 

 greater; and a-a = d-d = 2 ab — i.e., the distance be- 

 tween the lowermost pair or between the uppermost pair 

 is twice the distance between the individuals of a couple. 

 The clitellum occupies segments 14 to 19. The worm is 

 distinctly an Acanthodrilid, and probably belongs to the genus 

 Octochcetus. Since the worm is not fully mature, I cannot 

 recognise the details concerning the arrangement of the 

 genital pores ; but internally I find the following features : 

 The dorsal vessel is double throughout, commencing at the 

 gizzard, which is in segment 6. There are the usual two pairs 

 of spermathecae, in the 8th and 9th segments, each with a 

 single diverticulum lying in the same segment as the main 

 sac ; but no further characters of a diagnostic character were 

 observable without doing injury to the type. 



* In the method of enumerating the segments we have to subtract one 

 for Hutton's numbers, as he appears to have counted the prostomium as 

 the first segment, as was the custom then. 



