M. A. de Quatrefages on the Classification of the Annelides. 107 
XILI.—On the Classification of the Annelides. 
By A. pE QuaTREFAGEs. 
[Concluded from p. 24. | 
THE appeal which I addressed to my brother naturalists when 
I published in the ‘Comptes Rendus’ the tables here reproduced, 
has brought me, from M. Claparéde, some written observations, 
accompanied by his ‘ Glanures Zootomiques ’ and an article pub- 
lished in the ‘ Bibliotheque Universelle de Genéve.’ I received 
these important documents at the very moment when I was cor- 
recting the proofs of the present notice. Pressed for time and 
by imperative occupations, I have been unable to devote myself 
to the studies which would have been required to enable me to 
appreciate all their value, and to introduce into the present pub- 
lication the modifications to which they will perhaps give rise. 
The ‘Glanures Zootomiques’ in particular contain a great number 
of new facts of which I must take careful account, and in my 
book I shall certainly give this important work the place which 
of right belongs to it. The article from the ‘ Bibliotheque Uni- 
verselle’ is especially a work of criticism. The author has 
rapidly appreciated my general ideas, as also the application 
which I have made of them, and has added some remarks on a 
certain number of special points. Itis to this that I would here 
reply in a few words. 
I am sorry to see that on many points I am but little in 
accord with M.Claparéde. Perhaps these differences of opinion 
may be due in part, as he himself indicates, to the fact that the 
tables isolated from the text, of which they are a summary, may 
lead to mistakes, and in any case show no trace of the reasons 
which have led me to certain conclusions. But still there are 
some questions as to which no doubt can remain, and with re- 
spect to which I cannot, to my great regret, adopt the views of 
my learned confrére, although he is far from always standing 
alone in his opinions, and I find side by side with him men who 
have deservedly the highest authority in zoology. 
Such is the question of the union in a single class of the 
Annelides with the Lumbrict and allied groups (Oligocheta, 
Erythrémes, Quatr.) and the Bdellea (Hirudinea). “The Oli- 
gocheta,” says M. Claparéde, “are certainly true Annelides.” 
And further on he adds, “The Oligocheta, apart from their 
moneecious character, are Annelides in every respect.” I must 
declare that I cannot subscribe to these propositions ; and the 
more I have reflected upon this question, the more difficult has 
it seemed to me to maintain this union. 
Let us first of all say a word about the monceciousness to 
which M. Claparéde attaches no value. What I have previously 
