ON CALIFORNIA EUDRILIDZ. 
BY GUSTAV EISEN. 
The California Oligochets, to be described below, are all related to the well- 
known genera Microscolex, Pontodrilus, Plutellus, ete., referred by Benham, Rosa 
and others to the general family of Eudrilidee, and by Beddard to his family Crypto- 
drilidx. I will not here discuss the relative merits of the respective families, as the 
number of species belonging to them is hardly sufficient to enable us to as yet come to 
any definite conclusion. For the present, at least, I retain these genera in the family 
of Eudrilide. But I must concede that this family, as defined by the above inyesti- 
gators, contains two distinet main types—one represented by Eudrilus and the other 
by Microscolex—and a separation in families should be made in reference to them, 
though I am uot prepared to make the separation as wide as Beddard has done. Our 
California species ally themselves to the Microscolex group, and especially to Micro- 
scolex and Plutellus. A species of Pontodrilus was found too late to be included. I 
believe this family may be conveniently divided into several subfamilies based upon 
the openings of the spermduets, prostates, penial sacs, as well as upon the location of 
the nephridio-pores. Our California forms may thus be grouped as follows: 
PONTODRILINI. 
The eight set are separate though in four couples on eyery somite. 
Clitellum complete. 
Male pore in somite xviii. 
Nephridia—mega-nephridia only—commence posteriorly to somite xiii; the pores are in line with setw 2’, 
not alternating in position. 
The prostate receives the spermduct previous to its entering the male pore. 
No gizzard, no typhlosole, no subneural vessel. PonTopRILus E. P., ISS1. 
PHoTopRILuS Girard, 1887. 
MICROSCOLECINT, 
Eight set separate in four couples; the sets of the inner couples not always parallel. 
Clitellum complete. - 
Male pore in somite xyii. 
The prostate receives the spermduct previous to its entering the male pore; or opens separately in the same 
somite. 
The nephridia commence anterior to somite vy; the nephridia in line with one of the setw 3 or 4. The first 
few anterior pores may open in front of a different sets from the posterior ones. 
No gizzard, no typhlosole, no subueural yessel. Ruopoprites Beddard, 1889. 
Microscouex Rosa, 1887. 
DELTANIA Eisen, 1893. 
PLUTELLINI. 
Sete eight, in couples or equidistant. 
Clitellum perfect or imperfect. 
Male pores in xviii. 
The prostate either receives the spermduet or it opens separately, but in the same pore. 
The nephridio-pores show a systematic alternation in position either in front of or outside of the sete. 
A gizzard; a small typhlosole may be present PLUTELLts Perrier, 1873. 
ARGILOPHTLUS Eisen, 1893. 
