igi4.] J. Stephenson : Oligochaeta from Northern India. 363 



on the other side there were six loops, of which the anterior, from 

 viii to iv, diminished regularly in size. 



These loops are contractile, but only in their dorsal portions. 

 In the case of the loops in segments ix-vii, about the dorsal third 

 is contractile ; in the anterior loops, vi and v at least (I have no 

 definite note regarding iv), it is a still smaller portion. The 

 contraction of these vessels is synchronous with the contraction of 

 the dorsal vessel in this region ; thus the dorsal vessel and the 

 contractile portions of the loops are all simultaneously invisible 

 during contraction, and the loops seem to start, of full size, from 

 nowhere, so to speak. 



A marked red blush in segment ix in the living worm is seen 

 on closer examination to be a network of fine vessels clothing the 

 oesophageal pouches. 



Fam. IvUMB RIGID AE. 



Helodrilus (Eisenia) foetidus (Sav.) 



Simla ; i2-viii-i9i3 ; Bishambar Das. A single specimen. 



Helodrilus (Bimastus) parvus (Eisen). 



Lyallpur (Punjab) ; Nov., 1911; Madan Mohan Lai. 



Lahore, Lawrence Gardens; Feb. 1912 ; B. L. Bhatia, Also 

 near the river Ravi; i5-xii-i9i3 ; Baini Parshad. 



Peshawar (N.-W. Frontier Province) ; April, 1913 ; Baini 

 Parshad. Also same place and collector ; 29-xii 1913. 



Mardan (Peshawar District) ; 25-xii 1913 ; Baini Parshad. 



Ferozepur ; io-i-1914 ; Baini Parshad. 



Many of the specimens were (for this species) very large and 

 well-grown; length 40 mm., breadth maximum 2| mm. The 

 clitellum extended over the normal seven segments (xxiv-xxx) 

 xxiii being in some cases however (Mardan specimens) slightly 

 altered also. There were no ridges or tubercles in association with 

 the ventral borders of the saddle-shaped clitellum in any of the 

 specimens that were close!}' examined. 



Helodrilus (Allolobophora) caliginosus (Sav.). 

 forma trapezoides (Ant. Dug.). 



Lahore ; common. 



Mardan (Peshawar District) ; 25-xii-i9i3 ; Baini Parshad. 



Peshawar (North- West Frontier Province) ; 29-xii-i9r3 ; Baini 

 Parshad. Also April, 1913 ; Ibrahim. 



Ferozepur; 8-ii-i9i4 ; 22-ii-i9r<q ; Baini Parshad. 



The variations from the usual condition mainly concern the 

 clitellum. This ver}' frequently embraces xxvi, and may encroach 

 slightly on xxv ; its extent therefore may be as much as 9J 

 segments (xxvi-|^xxxv). The ridges on segments xxxi-xxxiii may 

 be formed of imperfectly fused tubercles ; or they may extend 



