1901 W. A. BAILY — RHYNCHELMIS 311 



The following notes on Rhynchelmis T have taken from 

 ' Monograph of the Order of Oligochaeta,' by Frank Evers 

 Beddard, F.R.S., 1895. 



" Family : — LUMBRICULID^. 



Definition : — Aquatic Oligochceta of moderate size. Setae paired 

 and S'Shaped, sometimes with the free extremity bifid. The dorsal 

 blood-vessel or the transverse vessels with blind contractile appendages 

 (exc. Stylodrilus). Two pairs of sperm ducts (exc. Alhiroides) 

 uniting to open by a single spermaducal gland on each side, which lies 

 in front of oviducal pores. No primal setse. It contains onl}' eight 

 characterised genera, viz. : Lumbriculus, Rhynchelmis, Trichodrilus, 

 Stylodrilus, Claparedilla, Phreatothrix, Eclipidrilus, Alluroides, 

 and Stttroa. 



" The two distinctive characters of the family, which are 

 not found in any other family, or genus, are the contractile 

 appendages of the blood-vessels, and the arrangement of 

 the vasa deferentia. 



Genus : — RHYNCHELMIS, Hoffmeister. 



Syn. Euaxes, Grube. 

 II ? Lycodriliis, Grube. 



Definition : —Setae not bifid at tip ; clitellum viii-xvi [segments] ; 

 prostomium elongate ; testes in [segments] ix, x ; ovaries in xi ; sperm 

 sacs and egg sacs paired, extending through a large number of seg- 

 ments ; spermi-ducal glands opening on to segment x., with a coating 

 of glandular cells broken up into rounded masses ; spermathecae, one 

 pair opening on to seg. viii, each pouch with a single diverticulum ; a 

 single median albumen-gland opens on to seg. ix. 



"The genus Rhynchelmis is, so far as our present know- 

 ledge goes, confined to the fresh waters of Europe ; it has 

 been met with in Bohemia, Russia, Belgium and Germany ; 

 I point out later that certain species, referred to this genus 

 from other parts of the world, are probably not referable 

 to it. 



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