566 W. BLAXLAND BKNHAM, 



This observation led me to commence a detailed study of 

 the coelomic fluid iu various species of our New Zealand 

 earthworms ; the work has been interrupted from time to 

 time, owing- to a variety of causes, but it seems at least wortli 

 while to bring together such facts as I have gatheied with 

 regard to this species, and to leave aside, for tlie preseut, the 

 less perfect observations on other species. 



Octochfetus multiporus has become familiar to zoolo- 

 gists from the various memoirs of Mr. Beddard, dealing with 

 the peculiar and exceptional situation of the gonads on the 

 posterior wall of their segments, the interesting condition of 

 the nephridia, and so forth. 



The worm is one of our largest species and, like the three 

 other species^ of the genus, is pale, indeed almost white, 

 owing to the absence of pigment iu the body wall, which 

 allows the opaque white fluid contents of the coelom to show 

 through. The worm is curiously sluggish and inert; if one 

 be taken in the hand it makes no attempt to wriggle out of 

 it, but, by the contraction of the longitudinal muscles the 

 worm shortens itself, and at the same time the circular 

 muscles are contracted, so that it becomes quite tense and 

 firm to the touch. When placed upon a table it remains 

 quiescent, and is extremely dilatory in making an effort to 

 escape. In a pie-dish the worm seems to lack the strength 

 to raise its body up the sides — ^in the way so familiar to 

 students of most earthworms. 



But when handled roughly a small amount of coelomic 

 fluid issues from the dorsal pores. When the worm is placed 

 in weak alcohol or vapour of acetic acid for the purpose of 

 killing it the discharge from the dorsal pores is abundant, 

 and a similar fluid is copiously discharged from the month, 

 which, on examination, is found to be coelomic fluid, witli 

 all the usual cells. Whether this fluid enters the buccal 



' The account of the fluid here given refers especially to 0. multiporus, 

 but I have examined the fluid of two other species of Octochsetus and find 

 a close similarity in the constituent cells, as well as in Acantliod rihis 

 annectens. 



