PACIFIC COAST OLKJOCH.ETA. 



I. 



Phcenicodrilus taste: Pontodrilus mich.elseni; Eclipidrilus frigidus. 



by gustav eisen. 

 PHCENICODRILUS nov. gen. 



Small slender terrrestrial oligocha^tse closely allied to Ocnerodrilus from which 

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

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

 also shared with such genera as Kerria and Gordiodrilus. 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 foi'm resembles 

 Ocnerodrilus in all principal characteristics which distinguish that genus from 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 sjiecies characteristics. For the present the following genus' diagnosis may 

 suffice: 



Small, terrestrial oligochsetge inhabiting damp soil. 



Clitellum imperfect; comprises the oviduct and the male pore. 



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

 spermathecal 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- 

 toneal cells. 



Alimentary canal without gizzard and typhlosole, but with one pair of large 

 diverticula in ix, connecting with the tul)ular intestine in the posterior part of the 

 somite. Four pair of septal glands in v, vi, vii and viii. 



No subneural vessel. Dorsal and ventral vessel connected by hearts in x and 

 xi. Lateral vessel projected anteriorly from each of the diverticula. Blood yellowish- 

 red. 



Testes two pair, in x and ix. Large sperm sacs in ix, x, xi, xii. Ovaries in 

 xiii. Oviduct in xiv. Two pair of ciliated rosettes in x and xi. Sperm ducts not 

 fused, open in the male pore in somite xvii. No prostate. 



