PACIFIC COAST OLIGOCHATA. 
i 
PH@NICODRILUS TASTE; PONTODRILUS MICHELSENI; ECLIPIDRILUS FRIGIDUS. 
BY GUSTAV EISEN. 
PHCENICODRILUS nov. gen. 
Small slender terrrestrial oligocheete closely allied to Oecnerodrilus from which 
genus they differ only in the absence of a prostate. In Ocnerodrilus the organ 
known as a prostate, or by some as atrium, is a prominent and important characteristic 
also shared with such genera as Kerria and Gordiodrilus. These genera which form 
a natural group have been chiefly characterized by one or more prostates, opening 
either with or independently of the spermducts. Our present form resembles 
Oecnerodrilus in all principal characteristics which distinguish that genus from Ker- 
ria and Gordiodrilus, with the exception that it has not even a trace of a prostate. 
There are also some other minor characteristics as will be seen from the description, 
but with the knowledge of only one species it is yet impossible to know if these are 
genus or species characteristics. For the present the following genus diagnosis may 
suffice: 
Small, terrestrial oligochetz inhabiting damp soil. 
Clitellum imperfect; comprises the oviduct and the male pore. 
Spermathecz with rudimentary diverticula at the inner free end—in ix. The 
spermathecal pore between viii and ix. 
No differentiated penial sete. The common setie sigmoid, 8 in each somite in 
4 couples. 
Nephridia paired, those posterior of the clitellum surrounded by large peri- 
toneal cells. 
Alimentary canal without gizzard and typhlosole, but with one pair of large 
diverticula in ix, connecting with the tubular intestine in the posterior part of the 
somite. Four pair of septal glands in y, yi, vil and viii. 
No subneural vessel. Dorsal and ventral vessel connected by hearts in x and 
xi. Lateral vessel projected anteriorly from each of the diverticula. Blood yellowish- 
red. 
Testes two pair, in x and ix. Large sperm sacs in ix, x, xi, xil. Ovaries in 
xiii. Oviduct in xiv. Two pair of ciliated rosettes in x and xi. Sperm ducts not 
fused, open in the male pore in somite xvii. No prostate. 
