OLIGOCHAETA 



Gfogenia natalensis, KINBEBG (6fv. Svensk. Akad. 1866). I believe this species to belong to 

 a genus different from any of those described in the present work. VAILLANT (6, p. 189) considers 

 it to be synonymous with Rhinodrilus, but the alternating setae in the anterior part of the body, and 

 its habitat (Natal), are opposed to this identification. On the other hand, the groove which is 

 described as dividing longitudinally the first two segments, recalls a similar grooving of the first 

 segments of BMnodrilus gulielmi (see p. 640). The clitellum has two apertures on the ventral 

 side, which probably means that there are spermiducal glands, otherwise the male pores would be 

 hardly visible. This suggests that the worm may be a Kynotus, with which identification the 

 absence of setae from the first few segments is not at variance. The ventral setae of clitellum are 

 ornamented. 



Eminodrilus equatorialis, BENHAM (Journ. R. Micr. Soc. 1891). This species, which comes 

 from Karagua in Equatorial Africa, is known from the examination of only one specimen, which 

 was sexually immature. It is two inches in length, and consists of about 190 segments. The setae are 

 paired, those of ventral couples being further apart. Dorsal pores absent. Prostomium complete. The 

 alimentary canal has a gizzard in v, and two pairs of calciferous glands ; the intestine begins in xiii or 

 xiv. The nephridia are paired, and open by the dorsal setae. There are fifty nephridia anteriorly. It 

 has only one pair of testes (in xi), and sperm-sacs (in xii). Spermathecae were not found, nor were the 

 male ducts traced beyond the end of septum xi/xii. BENHAM is possibly right in regarding this worm 

 as a Geoscolicid, but, in the meantime, it might be a Cryptodrilid with the spermiducal glands not 

 yet developed. He describes, however, ' peculiar sacs in viii and ix with several setae,' which suggests 

 some of the African Geoscolicids. 



Genus RHINODBILUS, PERKIER. 



Syn. Thamnodrilus, BEDDARD. 

 ? Geogenia, VAILLANT. 

 Anteus, MICHAELSEN. 



DEFINITION. Setae paired, ornamented, those of elitellum usually longer and 

 straighter. Prostomium. very elongate, retractile within a sheath. First 

 nephridia larger than following, sometimes opening into buccal cavity. Calci- 

 ferous glands generally six or seven pairs. Spermathecae one to four pairs, 

 placed anteriorly. 



This genus is distinguishable from all the remaining Geoscolicidae, with the sole 

 exception of Trichochaeta, by the singular elongated prostomium ; this organ by its 

 great length recalls the prostomium of the two aquatic genera Rkynchelmis and 

 Sutroa ; it occurs in all three species of Rhinodrilus. PERKIER (3, p. 65) compares 

 it with the cephalic appendage of Stylaria proboscidea, and insists that it has no 

 analogy with the proboscis of marine Annelids. VAILLANT (6, p. 190, footnote), on 

 the other hand, is of opinion, from his dissections, that this organ is an ' extroversion 

 de la partie ante'rieure du tube digestif.' In Rhinodrilus gulielmi, I pointed out 

 (60, p. 157) that the prostomium is retractile within the mouth cavity, appearing 



