ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY, MICROSCOPY, ETC, 559 



Annulata. 



British Serpulids.* — W. C. M'Intosh gives an account of thirteen 

 species : — Fro tula tubularia, Filif/rdna implexa (a very variable form), 

 Bydroides norvegica, Scrpula rermu'idaris, Pomatocerus triqueter, Flaco- 

 stegus tridentatus, Apomatus ampidliferus, Ditrgpa arieUna, Spirorbis 

 caidleryi, S.gramdatus, S. horealis, S.pusiUus, Pdeolaria miUtaris. Tlie 

 author also discusses a form of Flacostegas from the ' Porcupine ' Expe- 

 dition, the coloration of Ceesicirrus neglectus, and the small Girratidus 

 incertus (which is figured), which was previously referred to as 6'. bio- 

 cidatus, a preoccupied name. 



Notes on Indian Oligochgeta.t — J. Stephenson deals especially with 

 collections from Ceylon and Cochin State. Two new genera are included : 

 (1) Erythrseodrilus, in a somewhat isolated position as a branch from 

 the base of the Octochffitine stock {Howascolex from Madagascar being its 

 nearest relative and probably its immediate ancestor) ; and (2) Oomaro- 

 drilus, a well-marked genus of the sub-family Megascolecina^, related to 

 other South Indian genera, such as Woodivardia and Megascolides. 

 Another feature of the collection is the large number of new species. 

 Thus of thirty-seven definitely named forms no fewer than twenty-five 

 (twenty species and five varieties) are new. In the genus Draivida 

 three out of four forms are new ; in Megascolides all three, and in 

 MegascoUx twelve out of sixteen. With regard to the latter especially 

 the impression left in the mind of the investigator is that m South 

 India and Ceylon the genus has recently undergone a notable blossoming 

 forth, with the production of a large number of forms and intermediate 

 forms, and that in consequence it is extremely difficult to separate species 

 from varieties, and varieties from examples of individual variability. 



The author discusses the " pharynx " of Enchytra^ids — a flat raised 

 plate of high columnar epithelium, with very definite edges, on the 

 dorsal wall of the alimentary tube immediately behind the buccal cavity. 

 The plate is perhaps sensory in function, and may be extruded for the 

 purpose of exploration, or possibly also for picking up minute food 

 particles by adhesion. That it can act as a sucker for help in progression 

 is not likely. 



In the description of Fridericia carmichseli reference is made 

 to aggregations of setffi and' setal fragments in the body-cavity in 

 segments vii-ix, surrounded by masses of coelomic corpuscles. They 

 were present in all the specimens examined, and seemed to be in process 

 of being eaten away. Perhaps they are formed in the way of excretion. 

 The author also discusses the sperm-sacs in the genus Enchytrsem, and 

 the iridescence of the funnels of the vasa deferentia, which is due to 

 the parallel arrangement of the spermatozoa. 



* Ami. Mag. Nat. Hist., xviii. (1916) pp. 161-99 (1 pi.), 

 t Memoirs Indian Museum, vi. (1915) pp. 35-108 (4 pis.). 



