168 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 



GENERAL REMARKS. 



I consider this a subspecies of Sparganophihis Benhami, at least until a closer 

 investigation of better material may reveal other characters, if any there are. Spar- 

 ganophihis guatemalensis is one of the smaller species about 10 cm. long by 2 mm. 

 wide; the specimens were considerably stretched. Color is deep flesh, with an intense 

 deep, dark violet lustre, much darker than in any other species and well preserved in 

 alcohol, in which the specimens appear blackish violet. 



Seti£ are lateral and dorsal. 



Clitellum extends from xvi-xxvi, but cannot be well defined on the ventral 

 side. The tiihercu/n puhertatis are in the shape of two parallel ridges extending from 

 xviii to xxii or specimens from Fatal and Coban, which I take to belong to the same 

 species as those from Los Banos in the City of Guatemala. 



INTERNAL CHARACTERS. 



Of these I could only distinguish a few. The spermathecce are in three pairs, 

 one each in vii, viii, ix, opening in the anterior intersegmental groove. The apical 

 end in the fully developed spermatheca is very wide, flattened like a mason's trowel. 

 Several of the spermathecce possessed a slit or opening in the apical end which com- 

 municated with a longer or shorter sac, continuous with the exterior lining of the rest 

 of the spermatheca. It is possible that this is only a result of maceration, as I have 

 seen nothing like it in other species of Sparganophilus, and it is not probable that we 

 here have an analogy with the spermathecae of Enchytraeus or Sutroa, where this 

 organ communicates with the intestine. 



Prostates are found in four pairs and situated in somites xxiv-xxvii or one 

 somite further back than in Sp. Benhami. This in specimens from Sapote. If this 

 character holds good it is one of considerable importance. 



Hearts wei'e in viii, ix, x, xi strongly developed, but not filling the coelom. 

 Some of the Guatemala Sparganophili possessed onl}'^ three pair of hearts in somites 

 ix, x, xi, with the ventral vessel branching in xv/xvi. Those were specimens from 

 Los Arcos. Others again from Amatitlan possessed the hearts in x, xi, xii, xiii, with 

 the ventral vessel divided in xv/xvi, while those from Los Bailos, Guatemala City, had 

 the ventral vessel branched in xiv/xv. I believe those from Amatitlan and Los 

 Arcos belong to different species, but, as all the specimens are lost, I can only call 

 attention to tlie differences and to the importance of further investigations. 



Sparganophilus carneus n. subsp. 



Habitat. Mississippi river near Clayton, Iowa, in soil at the water's edge, 

 under pieces of boards and lumber. Numerous specimens at end of August, 1890, 

 only few of which were adult. 



General remarks. It is probable that this is only a northern form of Sparga- 

 nophilus Benhami, from which species it differs principally in the form of the sperm- 

 athecse, and by a much lighter color. The specimens at my command were not in proper 

 condition and the shape and position of the tubercula puhertatis could not be made out. 



