'298 nESCRiPTiONS of earthworms. 



the anterior side of the 9th septum; the 10th septum bears 

 the second pair of them on its anterior side, the third 

 pair on its posterior side, while the fourth pair is fixed 

 on the posterior side of the 11th mesentery. The two an- 

 terior pairs agree in their appearance and are somewhat 

 retort-shaped. The funnels of the vasa deferentia lie free 

 in segment 10 and 11. 



In comparing our specimens with the known species, 

 they appear to approach very nearly Alloh. complanata , 

 agreeing with this species as well in the position of the 

 girdle as in the arrangement of the setae and the presence 

 of 4 pairs of seminal vesicles ; however there are two im- 

 portant points of difference between them , viz. the num- 

 ber of copulatory pouches and the situation of the dorsal 

 pores. Though it is stated by Dugès ^), that in Alloh. com- 

 planata the number of spermathecae is not always the 

 same, but depends on its state of sexual maturity, however 

 in adult individuals 7 pairs of them appear always to be 

 present ; Rosa *) at least states , that he examined very 

 many specimens and he never could find the slightest va- 

 riation. While all our specimens had a well-developed girdle 

 and were without doubt in a condition of sexual maturity. 

 I believe we must consider the disagreement in the number 

 of the spermathecae between both species as marks of spe- 

 cific difference. In the position of the first dorsal pore our 

 specimens differ also from Alloh. complanata , and though 

 this may be a character of not much importance, it results 

 from Ude's investigations ^), that the situation of the first 

 dorsal pore in the different species is rather constant and 

 not subject to much variation. Mr. Oerley seems to have 

 identified our specimens with the L. stagnalis Hoffm. *) ; 

 I believe it may be possible, however Hoffmeister's species 

 is too imperfectly characterized to admit of recognition with 



1) Annal. Sc. Nat. Tom. XV, 1828, p. 327. 



2) Loc. cit. p. 42. 



3) Loc. cit. p. 121. 



4) Die jetzt bekannten Arten aua der Familie der Regenwürmer, p. 35, fig. 7. 



JN'otes troxa. the I-ieyden IMuseuixi, Vol. IX. 



