W. W. Smith. — On New Zealand Earthworms. 165 



phrase, 'as a rule more than one gizzard.' According to 

 this definition, my Acanthodrilus multiponis should be referred 

 to the genus Bcnliamia ; and yet it differs from the African 

 species (Africa is at present the head-quarters of the genus) in 

 a number of characters. There are no penial setae ; the cal- 

 ciferous glands are limited to a single pair ; the dorsal vessel 

 is double ; the setae are not strictly paired, but separated by a 

 little distance. There are two other species described in the 

 present paper which agree with Acanthodrilus multijJorus in 

 these points. A fourth species — Acanthodrilus antarcticus — 

 agrees with A. multiporus in most of these characters, but not 

 in all. 



" It has penial setas ; the two pairs of calciferous glands are 

 in segments xv., xvi., and there is a smaller gland in xiv. ; 

 only the single gizzard and the distant setae distinguish this 

 species from the majority of those assigned by Michaelsen and 

 others to the geiaus Benhamia. In spite, however, of the near 

 resemblance of this particular x\canthodrilid to Benhamia, I 

 am not inclined to refer it to that genus. In the first place, it 

 is possible that Benhamia schlegelii, which is stated to have 

 but one gizzard, has really two ; the two gizzards in this 

 genus are often so close together that it is not a little difficult 

 to make out that they are really two ; the interval of soft- 

 walled oesophagus between them is reduced to the lowest terms 

 in many cases. In the second place, Acanthodrilus antarcticus 

 is so like A. multi'porus in other particulars that it would be 

 doing violence to their obvious relationship to separate them.;'' 

 Taking into account also the distribution of these species, it 

 seems reasonable, now that the old genus Acanthodrilus is 

 being broken up, to associate the New Zealand species here 

 referred to into a genus distinct from Benhamia, which may 

 be termed Octochcztus. It will be thus defined : — 



" OCTOCH.ETUS, nov. gen. 



•" Prostomium not continued by grooves on to buccal segment ; 

 clitellum, xiii.-xix. (xx.) ; male pores on prominent 

 papillae ; setae distant ; ventral setae present on segment 

 xviii. ; a single gi^^zard in vi., or v. and vi., or v. ; calciferous 

 glands one or two pairs, in xvii., xviii., or xv. and xvii. ; 

 typhlosole well developed ; nephridia diffuse, a mucous 

 gland present ; dorsal vessel present from seventh segment 

 onwards; diverticula of spermatothecse very minute. Dis- 

 tribution : New Zealand. 



* It may turn out that the position of the gizzard distinguishes my 

 •genus Octoclicctus from Benhamia. I am aware that Rosa speaks of the 

 gizzards of B. scioana as occupying segments xv. and xvi. ; this is at pre- 

 sent the only exception to tlie rule that in Benhamia the gizzards are a 

 ■segment or two further back. — F.E.B. 



