Vermes. 169 



Hah. — Christmas Island (near small stream on east coast). 



A very small species, measuring only 15-20 mm. in length by 

 a diameter of 2-2"5 mm. ; it consists of about 70-80 segments ; the 

 •colour (in spirit) is a deep yellow. 



The setfe on segment 25 are approximately 50. 



The clitellum occupies somites 14, 15, 16. 



The male poi'cs are on high conical and almost lateral porophores, 

 which are partially visible from behind. The boundaries of these 

 porophores are laterally indistinct; in front and behind they are 

 marked by the intersegmental furrows 17-18 and 18-19, which 

 are here deflected. Fourteen setfe are visible between the male 

 pores. 



The oviducal pore is single and lies in a whitish spot on the 

 14th segment. 



There are three pairs of spermathecal pores between somites 5-6, 

 6-7, and 7-8, close to the lateral line. 



I have not been able to determine the position of the first dorsal 

 pore. There are no copulatory papillae. 



!None of the septa are noticeably thick and none are wanting. 



The gizzard is between conical and tun-shaped ; it is as long as 

 two somites, but is nevertheless comprised between septa 7-8 and 

 8-9 ; this last septum is pushed backwards and comes nearly in 

 contact with septum 9-10. 



The last heart lies in segment 13. 



The spemiathecae lie in segments 6, 7, 8 ; each consists of 

 a nearly globular sac with a short narrow duct, which is connected 

 at the inner side with a narrow tubular diverticulum ; this diverti- 

 culum is straight, not enlarged at the end, and extends a little over 

 the middle of the large sac. 



The sperm - sacs in segments 1 1 and 1 2 are each connected 

 with a minute sperm-reservoir; the sperm-reservoirs of the 10th 

 segment are laterally produced into a large lobe, which looks 

 exactly like another pair of spenn-sacs, but it should be mentioned 

 that the true sperm-sacs lying in segment 10 prove to be connected 

 with the sperm-reservoirs of the 11th, and not with those of the 

 10th segment. 



The prostates extend through six segments ; they are very 

 irregular in shape and consist of many lobules, which are only 

 loosely connected ; the ejaculatory duct is of moderate length, 

 sigmoid, and does not open into a muscular bulb. 



This species somewhat recalls P. acrophyla, Eosa, ^ from 

 •Sumatra. 



* Ann. Mus. Civ. Geneva, vol. ivi, 1896. 



