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CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 
found in one specimen differing from any other which I investigated. Out of six 
specimens which I sectioned off five agreed in all particulars as regards the absence 
of a prostrate, as generally understood in Ocnerodrilus, neither did seven specimens 
which I dissected show any trace of such a prostate. One specimen which I sec- 
tioned, however, showed an abnormal prolongation of the muscular chamber, in every 
particular resembling the lower muscular part or the atrium proper of the prostate as 
characteristic of Ocnerodrilus. It ascended inwardly in the cavity of the body as 
high as to sete 3 and 4, ended here blindly without any differential glandular part 
or prostate proper, as is always found in Ocnerodrilus. Such “returns” to original 
characters and ancestors must, of course, be expected, and are the more interesting 
when encountered. We might on the other hand consider Phwnicodrilus taste as 
standing on a lower grade than Oenerodrilus, the prostate not having yet appeared. 
But against such a view speaks the fact that her organs are as highly developed as 
in Oenerodrilus, which would hardly be expected of a lower form, in which we would 
naturally look for a lower degree of development in several organs at the same time. 
A degeneration of a certain organ, however, such as the prostate, would not necessitate 
a similar degeneration of several other organs at the same time. 
The absence of a prostate in Pheenicodrilus is of considerable interest, and I 
think it clearly demonstrates that the absence or presence of this organ cannot be laid 
at the foundation of families. Such absence of the prostate in an Ocnerodrilide is not 
unexpected. A perusal of the various species of Oenerodrilus shows us how these 
species may be arranged in a series according to the size of the prostate, the list being 
headed by Ocnerodrilus occidentalis, with a very extended prostate, while at the other 
extremity we find Ocnerodrilus Hendriei with the most diminutive prostate, not extend 
ing outside of the somite. There is thus only a step further to Phcenicodrilus where 
this organ is entirely absent. That this fact will have some influence upon our views 
of the classification of Oligocheeta is evident, and several genera or even families 
which hitherto have been considered far apart solely on account of the presence or 
absence of a glandular prostate, must now be brought closer together. 
Ovary and oviduct occupy the same somites as in Ocnerodrilus and offer no 
characteristics of interest. 
Habitat. 1 found this species in the Sierra el Taste, in the Cape region of Baja 
California, some 40 or 50 miles north of Cabo San Lueas, at an altitude of 4,000 feet. 
Later on I found specimens in great number in a garden at Pescadero on the Pacific 
coast, on the western slope of the same sierra, but at an altitude of only a few feet above 
the ocean. The water used for irrigation was taken from a creek coming from the 
sierra. 
The species lives in damp soil and oecur in great numbers, not mixed with 
any other form as far as my experience goes. ‘The distribution of the species is most 
interesting as on the eastern side of the Sierra in the valley of San José, [never found 
any other Ocnerodrilid than Ocnerodrilus Beddardi. The question if the Sierra really 
absolutely divides the habitats of the two only forms of this family found in the Cape 
Region, further explorations are necessary to decide. 
