BY J. J. FLETCHER, M.A., B.SC. 555 



reception. These worms in respect of having the male pores on- 

 segment xviii, and in possessing eight rows of set?e and two 

 gizzards, make some approach to Perrier's Digaste-, but while the 

 latter genus is postclitellian, the worms under consideration are 

 intraclitelliin. The more important generic characters, as far as 

 one can judge from the consideration of a single species, are : — 

 Clitellum of about five segments from xiii or xiv to xviii ; male 

 pores on xviii ; female pores on xiv ; eight rows of setae ; two 

 gizzards. 



This is the worm previously alluded to as usually living in and 

 under rotten logs in the sassafras brush at Burrawang and at 

 Springwood. It appears to thrive on a diet of rotten wood, 

 though of course it at times must live in the earth before it gets 

 into the rotten logs, and Mr. Wilkinson informs me that on one 

 occasion he saw a number of them beneath an uprooted clump of 

 ferns. 



Colour when alive dark red almost plum-colour, lighter below ; 

 some spirit specimens retain the colour fairly well, others change 

 to a bluish-grey. The segments of the clitellar region usually 

 lighter, and of a purple hue. The integument is very thick, so 

 that none of the vessels or organs show through it. Contracted 

 spirit specimens are short, flat, and thick, and a transverse section 

 of the body, except that it is flattened ventrally, would be 

 elliptical in outline ; the first few anterior and the last few 

 posterior segments are more circular. Large specimens have a 

 length of from 70 to 80 mm., a breadth of 10-12 mm., and a 

 thickness of 8 to 9 mm., and comprise from 100 to 120 segments. 

 The body is Avidest a little way behind the clitellum, tapering 

 anteriorly and more gradually posteriorly. When alive and 

 extended the body is more cylindrical and more tapering. When 

 alive and very strongly contracted the body becomes of nearly 

 uniform girth and obtusely rounded at both ends. 



Prostomium small, rounded ; buccal segment very slightly 

 excavated, only for about J, or even less of its width. 



The segments are very distinct, there being in some specimens 

 but little indication of division into annuli ; after about the 7th 



