MEGASCOLEX INDICUS. 187 



of the buccal segment, dilating at the anterior part. 

 Orifices of the copulatory pouches at the ventral side be- 

 tween the 5th and 6th , 6th and 7th, 7tli and 8th , 

 8th and 9th segment. The 10th riug striking by its 

 great length. The 14th, 15th and 16th segment com- 

 pose the girdle, which is characterized not only by its 

 lighter colour, but also by the total absence of bristles. 

 Orifice of the oviduct in the middle of the ventral side of 

 the 14th segment. Male genital orifices on the 18th 

 segment on two papillae, placed in the circular row of 

 the bristles. There are no papillae in the vicinity of the 

 genital pores , as are to be found in M. posthumus Vaill. I 

 only observed a single pair of papillae near the orifices of the 

 copulatory pouches on the 7th and 8th segment in spe- 

 cimens from Java. Dorsal pores are distinct behind the 

 girdle. The number of setae on each segment amounts to 

 42 and 48 , and is nearly the same in the different regions 

 of the body ; on the contrary their length shows great dif- 

 ferences, those on the ventral side being sometimes twice 

 as long as those on the back. 



The alimentary tract beginns with a large pharynx , 

 which extends to the fourth septum ; its whole sur- 

 face is covered with glandules. The oesophagus occupies 

 the 5th , 6th and 7th segment ; in the fifth segment it 

 is provided with two large glands , while in the 5th and 

 6th segment there are also two other groups of spirally 

 wound glands on the anterior side of the septum. ') 



Zool: Bd. IV" belongs to this species; in writing this essay and also that in 

 -/Midden-Sumatra etc." loc. cit., I had not yet been able to clear up the ques- 

 tion of synonymy of Perichaeta and M egascolex and therefore used the first name. 

 1) In my paper "TJber eine Perichaeta von .Tava" I.e., the remark was made 

 that I could not find the openings of these glands in the oesophagus , and I 

 put to question if those openings did really exist , as stated by Perrier ; 1 had 

 overlooked that Perrier in his Memoir on the „Organisation des Urochaeta", 

 (Arch. Zool. Exp. T. Ill) suggested that those glands should discharge their 

 secretion not in the oesophagus but in the body cavity. Instead of enjoying 

 himself that we had come to the same conclusion, Perrier takes my remark 

 amiss and denies ever having said that these glands open in the oesophagus. 



!N'otes from th.e Leyden ]VItiseu.iix , Vol . "V. 



