PACIFIC COAST OLIGOCH^TA. 151 



SPARGANOPHILUS Benham. 



Definition. Aquatic oligochreta. Eight xetre in four couijles. Prostomium 

 not marked off from peristomium, but furnished vnth a superior pit. Few dorsal pores. 

 Clitellum very large, from eight to twelve somites. No penial setre. Spermnthece in 

 vii, via and vc, from tv:o to eight in each somite. Sperm -sacs in xi and .ni, racemose. 

 Specmduct always subepidermal. Male pore xviii/ix, or anterior part of xix. Pros- 

 tates generally j)i^^sent in three or four pairs situated several somites posterior to the 

 spermiducal pores. No gizzards, no calciferous diverticula, no typhlosole. Four pairs 

 of hearts. Two pairs of lateral, longitudinal infegumental vessels extending forward 

 from somite xiv, not connecting anteriorly ivith the gut -wall and median trunks. 

 Nephridia ineganephric, commence in somite xii or xiii. 



Principal species characters are derived from the position of the setfe; number 

 and sliape of spermathecie in each somite; lobulation of the sperni-saes; course of the 

 spermducts; shape and position of tubercnla ]>ubertatis, whether dorsal or ventral, to 

 the male pore or spermduct; extent of clitelhim; presence of a subpharyngeal integ- 

 umental gland in iii; length of worm and number of somites, etc. 



GENERAL REMARKS. 



The first species belonging to this genus was described by Benham from the 

 river Thames in England. Later, Frank Smith described another species from North 

 America and it became doubtful, as first suggested by Bcnhaui, if the genus was 

 originally an American or European one. The very restricted locality or habitat of 

 the European species would indicate its probable importation from some other country, 

 and when the American species was found it became almost certain that we had to 

 search for the original home of this genus on the American continent. Ali-eady 

 when Benham's paper was published I had in my possession specimens of this genus 

 from Guatemala, California and the Central North American States, and there 

 remained no doubt in my mind as to the native habitat of the genus. As it now stands 

 we have seven species sufficiently well defined to be recognized and one more of which 

 no detailed description can be had, but of which we know enough to be able to 

 recognize it should it again be observed. Of these eight species then seven are 

 American and one European, and everything points to the probability that the latter 

 one is a lately im.ported species to England most likely from this country, as Ben- 

 ham originally supposed. 



The species described here below are not of equal value as species as might 

 be naturally inferred. Four of the species are well defined, which principally 

 is due to better preserved and abundant material for study. These species are: Spar- 

 ganophilus tamesis, Eiseni, Benhami and Smithi. Two are less well-known, due entirely 

 to want of sufficient well preserved material. These species are 8p)argaao2)hilus car- 

 neus and guatemalensis, both of which may prove only varities of Sp. Benhami. The 

 remaining species Sp>arganophilus sonomm may prove a variety of Sparganophilus 

 Smithi, but just as such all the more interesting. 



A point of unusual interest in this genus is the presence of prostates, or, as 



