DESCRIPTIONS OF EARTHWORMS. 25 



are diffuse, especially developed in the clitellar region. 

 The septa XI, XII and XIII are very thick and muscular. 



The intestinal canal presents two gizzards in seg- 

 ments VII and VIII, and three pairs of reniform coeca in 

 segments XV, XVI and XVII. The first of them, as usually 

 the smallest, has a plain wall, but the two larger ones 

 show shallow, horizontal grooves. The observation of 

 Beddard with regard to Microdrilus saliens ^), that the three 

 pouches of each side do not open separately into the gut, 

 but communicate with the intestinal canal by one common 

 duct, induced me to examine this structure in the present 

 species. I was not little astonished to find about the same 

 arrangement; each gland does not enter the intestine se- 

 parately, but there is only a single duct, situated in the 

 XVI th segment, which seems to belong to the foremost 

 pouch , and the second and third coeca are connected 

 with it by short tubes. I suppose that other Benhamia- 

 species will show the same arrangement and I cannot 

 therefore agree with Michaelsen's suggestion, that the two 

 posterior coeca should have another function as the 

 anterior one , because he usually found no carbonate of 

 lime in them ^). 



This species without doubt is nearly allied to B. Beddardi , 

 which differs however by having two pairs of fascicles of 

 copulatory setae unlike the penial setae. This character seems 

 also to occur in the genus Dichogaster, for Michaelsen states 

 about Dichogaster Hupferi ^), that to the spermathecae 

 there are appended fascicles of copulatory setae, differing 

 from the penial bristles; however the author makes no 

 mention of a glandular apparatus. 



1) Proc. Zoölogie. Society, 1892, p. 683, pi. XLVI, fig. 8. 

 2") Deutsch-Ost-Afrika; Kegenwiirmer, 1895, p. 26. 

 3) Jahrb. Hamburg. Wissensch. Anst. vol. IX, 1891, p. 66, pi. IV, 

 31 and 32. 



Notes from the Leyden Museiam , "Vol. X'VII. 



