170 Transactions. — Zoology. 



who has done so much in describing the fauna of New 

 Zealand." 



Octochsetus huttoni, Beddard. Pro. Zool. Soc. Lond., 1892,. 

 p. 674. 



The first sj)ecimens sent to Beddard were discovered in the- 

 rich moist soil on the banks of Albury Creek, in South Can- 

 terbury. It is a larger species than 0. thomasi, and very 

 sluggish in habits. When taken out of the soil it becomes 

 extremely limp and soft, and does not appear to thrive in 

 flower-pots. All the specimens I brought home with me died 

 in a few weeks, although they were placed in fresh soil, and 

 kept moist in a cool place. Following is Beddard's diagnosis 

 of the species : — 



"The examples sent to me were all of approximately the 

 same size ; an individual selected for accurate measurement 

 was 130mm. in length by 7mm. in breadth at the clitellum. 

 It consisted of 233 segments. 



" The colour during life was pink, the clitellum being 

 white ; this colour is due to the fact that the species, like 0. 

 multiporus, had no pigment in the skin. 



" The anterior segments are much annulated. After the 

 clitellum there is also, though to a less extent, an annulation 

 of the segments. 



" The clitellum occupies segments xiii.-xix. (xx.). 



"The atrial pores are borne upon a very prominent fold 

 overhanging on each side the ventral surface, which in this 

 region appears, in consequence, as if hollowed out. The two 

 pores of each side are connected by a longitudinal furrow. 



" The prostomium is short and wide, and is not continued 

 by grooves on to the buccal segment, which is marked by 

 numerous furrows. 



" The setae are in pairs not closely approximated, 



" The dorsal pores commence between xi. and xii. 



" The gizzard measures 8mm. in length, and appears at 

 first sight to occupy four or five segments ; it really corre- 

 sponds to segment v., which is increased in size at the expense 

 of neighbouring segments for its reception. The calciferous 

 glands are in xv. and xvi. ; they have the appearance of being 

 merely dilatations upon the course of the oesophagus, which 

 is the case with the other species of this genus. 



" The intestine begins in xviii., but the typhlosole (which is 

 very prominent) does not begin before segment xx. ; it ends at 

 about 60 segments before the end of the body. 



"The first septum is in front of the gizzard. After the 

 gizzard are six stout septa, and, following these, are two 

 which are rather more developed than the rest, but not so 

 strong as those which precede them. The nepliridia are 



