PACIKIC COAST OLIGOCHVETA. 1 H 1 



SPARGANOPHILUS Benliara. 



Definition. Aquatic oUgocluita. Eight xetre in four cou,]-)les. Prostoinium 

 not marked off from perldom'mm, hitf furnixlwd ivith a aupvrior pit. Feio dorsal porex. 

 (Jlitellum very large, from eight to twelre somites. No 'penial setai. Spermathecw in 

 ' vii, via and it:, from tiro to eight in each somite. Sperm -sacs in xi and xii, racemose. 

 Specmduct alir<ti/x sicbepidennaL Male pore ■vviii/ix, or anterior p<irl of xix. Pros- 

 tates generally present in three or four pairs situated several so7nites posterior to the 

 spermiducal pores. No gizzards, no calciferous diverticula, no typhlosole. Four pairs 

 of hearts. Tioo pairs of lateral, longitudinal integinnental vessels extending forward 

 from somite xiv, not connecting anteriorly irith /he gnt-icall and median trunks. 

 Nephridia meganephrir, commence in somite xii or xiii. 



Principal species characters arc derived from the (jos^ition of the netif; nmnber 

 and sliape of spermathecje in eacli somite; lobulation of tiie sperm-sacs; course of the 

 spermducts; shape and position of tubercnla pubertatis, whether dorsal or ventral, to 

 the male pore or sperraduct; extent of clitelhim; presence of a subpharyngeal integ- 

 umental gland in iii; length of worm and number of somites, etc. 



GENERAL REMARKS. 



The first species belonging to this genus was described by Benham from the 

 river Thames in England. Later, Fraidc Smith described another species from North 

 America and it became doubtful, as first suggested by Benham, if the genus was 

 originally an American or European one. 'ilie very restricted locality or habitat of 

 the European species would indicate its probable importation from some other country, 

 and when the American species was fonnd it became almost certain that we had to 

 search for the original home of this genus on the American continent. Ali'eady 

 when Benham's paper was published T had in my possession specimens of this genus 

 from Guatemala, California and the Central North American States, and there 

 remained no doubt in my mind as to the native habitat of the genus. As it now stands 

 we have seven species sufficiently well defined to be recognized and one more of which 

 no detailed description can be had, but of which we know enough to be able to 

 recognize it should it again be observed. Of these eight species then seven are 

 American and one European, and everything points to the probability that the latter 

 one is a lately imported species to England most likely fiom this country, as Ben- 

 ham originally supposed. 



The species described here below are not of equal value as species as might 

 be naturally inferred. Four of the species are well defined, which principally 

 is due to better preserved and abundant material for study. These species are: Spar- 

 ganophilus ta7nesis, Eiseni, Benhami and Smithi. Two are less well-known, due entirely 

 to want of sufficient well preserved material. These species are Sparganofddlus car- 

 neus and guatemalensis, both of which may prove only varities of Sj). Benhami. The 

 remaining species Sparganophilus sonomce may pi'ove a variety of Sparganophilus 

 Smithi, but just as such all the more interesting. 



A point of unusual interest in this genus is the presence of prostates, or, as 



