306 W. BLAXLAND BENHAM. 
Among the bases of these cells are a few roundish nuclei 
without any stained protoplasm. These perhaps help in the 
renewal of the epithelium. 
The duct (at a., fig. 31), common to the sac and the appendix, 
is lined by a layer containing two sorts of cells, the nuclei of 
which differ in shape, size, and capacity for stains, and in 
position in the cell. In sections two rows of nuclei are evident, 
a deeper and a more superficial series. The nuclei nearer the 
base of the epithelium are more deeply stained, and about half 
the length of those of the outer row, which themselves are so 
placed that their outer ends are at about the middle of the 
cells (see fig. 32 a). The latter, longer nuclei belong to 
narrow Cells filled with granules similar to those in other parts 
of the spermatheca. The shorter nuclei, which alternate with 
and lie more deeply than the others, belong to clear cells with- 
out any very definite contents. The alternation of the cells is 
quite evident with a high power, and is very regular. The 
spaces between the granular cells are not artificial, as the 
figure might suggest, but are occupied by excessively fine 
protoplasmic (?) contents. These two sorts of cells are, no doubt, 
modifications of the ordinary columnar and goblet cells of the 
epidermis. 
Locality.—These worms were found, with the specimen of 
Neodrilus, amongst mould and decaying wood at Manngatua, 
south of Dunedin. 
AFFINITIES OF PLAGIOCHATA. 
This new genus apparently has affinities in two directions 
viz. with Pericheta and with Acanthodrilus. The circle 
of chete is known in Perionyx and Pericheta (including 
Megascolex and Beddard’s sub-genera) ; but in no form do I 
find any mention of the chetz being in couples, in the way in 
which they are arranged in the present genus. Again, the 
position of the genital pores marks it off from Pericheta, 
where both spermiducal and spermathecal pores are much 
further removed from the ventral mid-line than is here the 
case, while the male pores are usually on papille. 
