964 NOTES ON AUSTRALIAN EARTHWORMS, 



on elliptical areas, of which those of the second and third pairs 

 were less distinct, and in most of the specimens situated in well 

 marked transverse pits with the papillse carrying the male pores 

 standing out well between them ; this however may be due to 

 shrinkage as in one of the largest specimens there are no pits and 

 the pores are flush with the surface. In a specimen 92 mm. long 

 in which the clitellum was undeveloped, and the adhesive discs 

 only slightly indicated, six pairs of pores were visible, but were not 

 quite so conspicuous as usual. 



The alimentary canal differs in several points from what I have 

 met with in the worms with interrupted circles of setse, though 

 closely agreeing with what has been described in typical perichsete 

 worms from other parts of the world. The pharnyx occupies 

 about three segments ; the oesophagus also about three segments, iv 

 to vi, is rather wide, and being constricted at the mesenteries the 

 intermediate portions appear more or less globular, and are coated 

 with a layer of white glandular matter ; the gizzard along with the 

 two posterior pairs of spermathecae occupies vn and viii, the 

 mesentery between these two segments being completely wanting ; 

 the small intestine extends from ix to xiv, and in the next segment 

 gives place to the sacculated large intestine which continues 

 throughout the rest of the body ; the intermesenteric portions of 

 the former in x to xin are dilated and more or less globular, but 

 there are apparently no pouch-like diverticula. Thelarge intestine in 

 xxv is provided with a pair of long lateral caeca tapering anteriorly, 

 such as have been so frequently described in other species of the 

 genus, though usually as being in segment xxvi ; the caeca come off 

 from the sides of the canal, lie alongside it, and are directed 

 forwards, their free tips reaching to xxi. 



The genitalia also present some slight differences from what I 

 have met with in the worms with incomplete circles of setse. In 

 xi and xii are two pairs of white sacs, which appear unmis- 

 takably to be vesiculse se^iinales. The anterior pair are long, 

 nearly cylindrical bodies, their distal portions tapering, slightly 

 adherent to one or both mesenteries, their proximal portions rising 

 from the floor of the segment independently of each other on either 



