NOTES ON AUSTRALIAN EARTHWORMS. Part VI. 



By J. J. Fletcher, M.A., B.Sc. 



In the following paper eight species chiefly from Eastern 

 Australia are proposed as new, an attempt is made to deal with a 

 number of small perichsete worms from various localities, which 

 are treated as varieties of species previously described, and further 

 particulars are given about four species as the result of the exami- 

 nation of additional and better supplies of material than were 

 originally available. As in previous papers the question of the 

 genera to which some of the species described should be referred is 

 left an open one ; some of the most favourable localities even in this 

 colony are yet unsearched for earthworms, and the question of 

 instituting new genera is one therefore which may more profitably 

 be considered later on. 



The new forms include, firstly, five described as species of 

 Cryptodrilus — one of the type of C. imicus, one with a remarkable 

 arrangement of the outer couples of setae the outer row of each of 

 which is nearer to the mid-dorsal line than the inner row of each 

 inner couple is to the mid-ventral line, one very robust form of 

 the type of C. mediterreus and G. canaliculatus, and two others 

 whose affinities at present are not very clear : secondly, a species 

 of Acanthodrilus from N.W. Australia, the second species only of 

 this genus so far recorded from Australia, in each case from the 

 northern half of the continent: and thirdly two species of Perichceta, 

 one of the type of P. austrina ; the other a remarkable, probably 

 intraclitellian form of the type of P. canaliculafa, with a pair of 

 conspicuous nephridiopores to a segment after the first, those of 

 each side of the body forming a sinuous series. 



