72 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 



found ill one specimen differino; from any other which I investigated. Out of six 

 specimens which I sectioned off five agreed in all particulars as regards the absence 

 of a prostrate, as generally understood in Ocnerodrilus, neither did seven specimens 

 which I dissected show any trace of such a prostate. One specimen which I sec- 

 tioned, however, showed an abnormal prolongation of the muscular chamber, in every 

 particular resembling the lower muscular part or the atrium proper of the prostate as 

 characteristic of Ocnerodrilus. It ascended inwardly in the cavity of the body as 

 high as to setse 3 and 4, ended here blindly without any differential glandular part 

 or prostate proper, as is always found in Ocnerodrilus. Such " returns " to original 

 characters and ancestors must, of course, be expected, and are the more interesting 

 when encountered. We might on the other hand consider PhtnicodrUus taste as 

 standing on a lower grade than Ocnerodrilus, the prostate not having yet appeared. 

 But against such a view speaks the fact that her organs are as highly developed as 

 in Ocnerodrilus, which would hardly be expected of a lower form, in which we would 

 naturally look for a lower degree of development in several organs at the same time. 

 A degeneration of a certain organ, however, such as the prostate, would not necessitate 

 a similar degeneration of several other organs at the same time. 



The absence of a prostate in Phoenicodrilus is of considerable interest, and I 

 think it clearly demonstrates that the absence or presence of this organ cannot be laid 

 at the foundation of families. Such absence of the prostate in an Ocnerodrilide is not 

 unexpected. A perusal of the various species of Ocnerodrilus shows us how these 

 species may be arranged in a series according to the size of the prostate, the list being 

 headed by Ocnerodrilus occidentalis, with a very extended prostate, while at the other 

 extremity we find Ocnerodrilus Hendriei with the most diminutive prostate, not extend 

 ing outside of the somite. There is thus only a step further to Phoenicodrilus where 

 this organ is entirely absent. That this fact will have some influence upon our views 

 of the classification of Oligochpeta is evident, and several genera or even families 

 which hitherto have been considered far apart solely on account of the presence or 

 absence of a glandular prostate, must now be brought closer together. 



Ovary and oviduct occupy the same somites as in Ocnerodrilus and offer no 

 characteristics of interest. 



Habitat. I found this species in the Sierra el Taste, in the Cape region of Baja 

 California, some 40 or 50 miles north of Cabo San Lucas, at an altitude of 4,000 feet. 

 Later on I found .specimens in great number in a garden at Pescadero on the Pacific 

 coast, on the western slope of the same sierra, but at an altitude of only a few feet above 

 the ocean. The water used for irrigation was taken from a creek coming from the 

 sierra. 



The species lives in damp soil and occur in great numbers, not mixed with 

 any other form as far as my experience goes. The distribution of the species is most 

 interesting as on the eastern side of the Sierra in the valley of San Jose, I never found 

 any other Ocnerodrilid than Ocnerodrilus Beddardi. The question if the Sierra really 

 absolutely divides the habitats of the two only forms of this family found in the Cape 

 Region, further explorations are necessary to decide. 



