[Proc. Koy. Soc. Victoria, 22 (N.S.). Part II., 1909.] 



Art. XY\ I. —Contributions to our Knoivledge of 

 Australian Eartltvjorins. 



The Nephridia. 



By FREDA BAGE, M.Sc, 



Government Research Scholar in the University of Melbourne. 



(With Phites XLIV.-XLVIT). 



[Kead 9th December. 1909]. 



For some years past Professor Spencer and Mr. J. J. Fletcher 

 have been engaged in describing a h\rge collection of Australian 

 earthworms, chiefly those of the eastern and south-eastern coastal 

 districts. 1 As their collections have increased in size they have 

 found it necessary to descrilje new species, putting them tem- 

 porarily into certain genera until the classification of the earth- 

 worm fauna should be more satisfactory. To prepare the way 

 for such a classification much anatomical work is needed, and at 

 present a series of investigations is being carried out in the 

 Melbourne University. Dr. Georgina Sweet and Miss Gwynneth 

 Buchanan have published work on the spermiducal glands 

 and bloodvessels respectively ; Miss Janet Raff is engaged on 

 work on the alimentary canal, and at the suggestion of Professor 

 Spencer I have undertaken the part in connection with the 

 nephridia. The work has been done in the Biological Laboratory 

 of the University of Melbourne, and I take this opportunity of 

 thanking Professor Spencer for the use of his large collection 

 of Australian earthworms and for his advice and help on all 

 occasions. 



The genera dealt with are Megascohx, Di-porochaeta., Diyaster^ 

 J*eriss(>f/(is/f^r, Met/ascolide.t, Woochvardid, Notoscolex and Fletcher- 

 odrihis, tliouL,di only oiie or two species of each have been examined. 

 In most of the forms the oiiginal description stated whether they 



1 A lar},'e imniber of eiiithwoniis tiom SoiiMi-Westerii Australia lias recently been de- 

 scribed by I'rofessor W. .Micbaclseii in liis work " Die Fauna Slldwest-Australiens," 1907. 



