PACIFIC COAST OLIGOCIIyETA. 



I. 



Phcenicodrilus taste: Pontodrilus mich.elseni; Eclii'idhii.us krkjidus. 



BY GUSTAV EISEN. 



PHCENICODRILUS nov. gen. 



Small slender terrrcstrial oligochaetje closely allied to Ocnerodrilus from which 

 genus they differ only in the absence of a prostate. In Ocnerodrilus the organ 

 known as a prostate, or by some as atrium, is a prominent and important characteristic 

 also shared with such genera as Kerria and Gordiodrihis. These genera which form 

 a natural group have been chiefly characterized by one or more prostates, opening 

 either with or independently of the spermducts. Our present form resembles 

 Ocnerodrilus in all principal characteristics which distinguish that genus fi"om Ker- 

 ria and Gordiodrilus, with the exception that it has not even a trace of a prostate. 

 There are also some other minor characteristics as will be seen from the description, 

 but with the knowledge of only one species it is yet impossible to know if these are 

 genus or species characteristics. For the present the following genus' diagnosis may 

 suffice: 



Small, terrestrial oligochsetse inhabiting damp soil. 



Clitellum imperfect; comprises the oviduct and the male pore. 



SpermatheciC with rudimentary diverticula at the inner free end — in ix. The 

 sperraatheeal pore between viii and ix. 



No differentiated penial sette. The common setae sigmoid, 8 in each somite in 

 4 couples. 



Nephridia paired, those posterior of the clitellum surrounded by large peri- 



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ird and typlilosole, but witli one pair of large 

 tubular intestine in the posterior part of the 

 V, vi, vii and viii. 



.nd ventral vessel connected by hearts in x and 

 i from each of the diverticula. Blood yellowish- 

 Large sperm sacs in ix, x, xi, xii. Ovaries in 

 liated rosettes in x and xi. S])erm ducts not 

 I xvii. No prostate. 



