tiew African Enrlhworm. -151 



Dichoyaster jaculalrix, sp. u.'^ 



External Features. 



Tlic speciiucns vary in length between 18 and 31 cni.^ and 

 have a diameter of about 10 mm. The number of segments 

 is al)out 180. 



The colour durin,ir lifcj aecording to Dr. Ciiiisty, was a 

 "greenish bine." The cuticle of the specimens in spirit still 

 shows a beautiful green and blue iridescence, the colours 

 being remarkably intense and brilliant. Beneath the cuticle 

 eacli segment is marked^ on the dorsal side, with a purplish 

 transverse band. 



The prostoniium is small, entering into a slight notch in 

 the anterior border of the first segment. Often, however, it 

 is completely withdiawn into the buccal cavity. 



The clitellura commences on segment xiii., and extends 

 back to segment xxii. or xxiii. The "genital area" on the 

 ventral side of the clitellar region is roughly hourglass- 

 shaped in outline, and usually rather deeply sunk. It 

 occupies segments xvii.-xix. TMie pores of the spermiducal 

 (" [)rostate") glands are arranged in two pairs, a pair near 

 either eml of the genital depression, on s-egments xvii. and 

 xix. respectively, as is usually the case in this genus. The 

 position of each of these pores is indicated by a single large 

 penial seta, which projects from the body-wall in a very con- 

 spicuous manner. These penial setie (fig. 1) measure 5 mm. 

 in length and 13 nnn. in thickness. They are entirely 

 smooth, without oinamentation of any kind, and diminish 

 rather suddenly at the tip, which is very slightly hooked. 



Tiie male pores lie on segment xviii., between the two 

 apertures of tiie spermiducal glands on either side. The 

 " seminal gutters/^ which connect the thre^e pores on either 

 side, are curved inwards towards the middle Hue, so as to 

 approach each other more closely in the middle than at the 

 ends. No genital [japillje have been observed. 



The oviducal pores are quite easily seen on the ventral 

 surface of segment xiv. They are situated rather near the 

 middle lino. 



The ordinary ehietje (tig. 2) are very small for the size of 

 the worm. The minute size of the clnetre, however, is a 

 feature of almost univeisal occurrence in tlie genus. They 

 are, as usual, arranged in four pairs on each segment, 

 beginning with segment iii. They nnjasure 0*8 mm. in 



* A spccitk diaguo-sis is given on p. io7. 



