110 W. BLAXLAND BENHAM. 



readily noticeable along the dorsal wall, but couVl be traced 

 all round (fig. 9). Viewed under the microscope it is seen 

 that each dilatation is connected by a short narrow vessel to 

 the circular vessel; and from the dilatation a vessel passes 

 away, which soon dips into the muscular coat of the body wall 

 and then subdivides. I have not traced them further ; but the 

 regular arrangement and large size of these dilatations, which 

 recall those previously described and figured in the case of 

 Lumbricus, Trigaster, &c., is deserving of mention. 



The nephridial system consists of a series of '^ micro- 

 nephridia/'^ arranged in a row around the inner surface of the 

 body-wall, near the hinder septum of most (probably all) of the 

 segments. This nephridial system is specially abundant in 

 Segments xiii, xiv, and xv, and most markedly towards the 

 ventral surface of these segments. 



Summary. 

 Benhamia coecifera is, then, characterised (1) by the 

 number and arrangement of the peculiar copulatory pits on the 

 ventral field ; (2) by the possession of a number of peculiar 

 finger-shaped cseca arising from the intestine ; (3) by the 

 form of the foldings of the wall of the calciferous glands, and 

 possibly (4) by the termination of the dorsal vessel in Segment 

 VIII ; (5) by the extent of the clitellum ; (6) by the position of 

 the first dorsal pore between Segments iv and v. 



Affinities. 

 In its size (length 510 mm.) and number (310) of segments 

 it might be grouped with certain other large species of the 

 genus found on the West Coast of Africa, viz. B. Schlegelii, 

 B. Buttikoferi, B. rosea, and B. inermis. But it differs 

 from each of these in the above characters. Firstly, it is 

 marked off" by the forward position of the first dorsal pore ; 

 this structure has been found of specific value in our European 



> This term, employed by Vejdovsky, is preferable to my term of " plecto- 

 nepbridia," for we have no evidence that in every case there is a true network 

 any more than we have a real network in all " capillary networks." 



