ON CALIFORNIA EUDRTLID^. 



1?Y GUSTAV EISEN. 



• • • 



The California Oligoclui'ts, to be described Ixdow, are all related to the well- 

 known genera Microseolex, Pontodrilus, Plutellus, etc., referred bj^ Benham, Rosa 

 and others to the general family of Eudrilida?, and by Beddard to his family Crypto- 

 drilidie. I will not liere discuss the relative merits of tlie respective families, as the 

 number of species belonging to them is hardly sufficient to enable us to as yet come to 

 any definite conclusion. For the jiresent, at least, I retain these genera in the family 

 of Eudrilidte. But I must concede that this family, as defined by the above investi- 

 gators, contains two distinct main types — one represented b}' Eudrilus and the other 

 '.)y Microscolex — and a separation in families should be made in reference to them, 

 tliough I am not prepared to make the separation as wide as Beddard has done. Our 

 California species ally themselves to the jMicroscolex group, and especially to INIicro- 

 scolex and Plutellus. A species of Pontodrilus was found too late to be included. I 

 believe this family may be conveniently divided into several subfamilies based upon 

 the openings of the spernuhu'ts, i)rostates, penial sacs, as well as upon the location of 

 the ne[)hridio-pores. Our California forms may thus be grouped as follows: 



rONTODHILI.VI. 



The eight seta^ ave separate though in four couples on every somite. 

 C'litelluni complete. 

 Male pore iu somite xviii. 



Nephi'idia — mega-uephriilia ouly — commence posteriorly to somite xiii; the pores are iu Hue with setfe 2', 

 uot alternating in position. 



The prostate receives the spermduct previous to its entering the male pore. 



No gizzard, no typhlosole, no snbueural vessel. Pontodrilus E. P., 1881. 



Photodrilus Girard, 1887. 



MICROSCOLECINI. 



Eight sets' sep.ai'ate in four couples ; the setaj of the inner couples not always parallel. 



Clitellum complete. 



Male pore iu somite xvii. 



The prostate i-eceives the spermduct previous to its entering the male jiore; or opens sejwrately iu the same 

 somite. 



The uephridia commence anterior to somite v; the uephriilia iu line with one of the setm .3 or 4. The first 

 few anterior pores may opeu iu front of a different seta' from the posterior ones. 



No gizzard, no typhlosole, no subueural vessel. Rfiohodrii.l's Beddard, 1889. 



Microscolex Kosa, 1887. 

 Df.i,tani,\ Eisen, 189."!. 



TLrTELLIXI. 



Setfe eight, iu couples or equidistant. 



Clitellum perfect or imperfect. 



Male jjores in xviii. 



The prostate either receives the spermduct or it ojjens sejiarately, but in the same jjore. 



The nephridio-pores show a systematic alternation iu position either iu front of or outside of the seta?. 



A gizzard; a small typhlosole may be present Plutellus Perrier, 1873. 



Argilophilus Eisen, 1893. 



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