252 FRANK E. BEDDARD. 



haps superfluous sperm. These cells were for the most part 

 loaded with granules, and some of them stained very deeply. 



It is curious that while, as already stated, the entire sperma- • 

 tothecal apparatus of Polytoreutus magilensis is filled 

 with the spermatophores, whose structure has been described, 

 the extreme end of the sac close to the egg-sac itself should 

 invariably contain only a few bundles of spermatozoa, not 

 compacted into spermatophores. The facts suggest that it is 

 in this region that impregnation of the ovum takes place ; 

 that here the spermatophores received from another individual 

 are dissolved, and the spermatozoa set free to do their work. 



2. Trichochasta hesperidum, nov. gen., n. sp. 



I found this new genus and species upon a single example 

 of an earthworm from Jamaica, which I received alive together 

 with a number of specimens of a Perichseta from Kew 

 Gardens. 



As the worm was not fully mature I can only give an incom- 

 plete account of its characters. 



§ External Characters. 



The general form of the species is very like Pontoscolex 

 arenicola; the colour also recalls that species, and the irregu- 

 larly alternating setse. As both worms come from the same 

 island I imagined at first that I had before me a specimen of 

 either Pontoscolex arenicola or of Diachaeta littoralis. 

 But the species which I describe here diflfers in so many points 

 from either of these two that it should, in my opinion, form 

 the type of a new genus. It belongs to the family Geoscoli- 

 cidse, mainly, though not exclusively, a New World family. 



The specimen measures about 2^ inches in length, and is of 

 a robust form. Schmarda's figure of Pontoscolex are- 

 nicola represents the general appearance of the present 

 species. As in many of the Geoscolicidaj, there is a prosto- 

 mium. Pig. 4 illustrates the first few segments of the bodj 

 viewed laterally; a narrow process of cylindrical form, and 



