142 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 
ones. The gizzard is connected by several powerful muscular strands with the body- 
wall in xi. 
There is a very large mass of pepto-nephridial tubes situated immediately above 
the posterior part of the pharyngeal gland. Longitudinal sections show the anterior 
nephridial canals to be greatly folded and very narrow. ‘There are very large masses 
of free ecelomie cells situated in the somites containing the sperm-sacs and the funnels 
of the spermducts. 
Acanthodrilus Vasliti n. sp. 
Figs. 148-154. 
General Remarks. his species is one of those abnormal forms which occur 
in almost every large genus, and whose organization and characteristics are not readily 
accounted for. It is also the most northern of any Acanthodrilus found so far, though 
undoubtedly true Acanthodrili will be found much further north. Acanthodrilus 
Vasliti differs from any other Acanthodrilus in possessing eight prostates or spermi- 
ducal glands, arranged in four pairs, two and two prostates opening together in each 
one of the four prostate pores in somites xviii and xx. Also in one other respect does 
this species show an interesting characteristic. The peritoneum lining the septa and 
body-wall is covered with enormous glandular cells, very much resembling those 
forming the nephridial mantle in many species. The duplication of the prostates is 
also found in Aerria Mc Donaldi, while abnormal development of peritoneal cells re- 
mind us of certain coelomic organs found in Perichzeta and some species of Acantho- 
drilus (Beddard, page 29, Monograph of Oligotheeta). Four pairs of prostates have 
been described by Ude in Geodrilus singularis, but details are wanting. 
Of the specimens in my possession one was sectioned longitudinally, two were 
dissected and afterwards sectioned vertically. None of the specimens were fully 
adult; the various generative organs were developed, but there was no trace of 
clitellum. 
Habitat. epic, Territory of Tepic, Mexico, at 4000 feet altitude, in the 
moist ground immediately under decaying logs, in the shade of a stone-fence, about 
one mile north of the city. October, 1894, Eisen and Vaslit, col. 
Color. Milky white, like an Enchytreeus, without trace of pigment. 
Size. Length 6 em. by 2 mm. in the region of somite vill. Slightly tapering 
towards the tail, the end of which is thickened. 
Number of somites 92 in the largest specimen, all of about the same size, ex- 
cept the last few caudal ones, which diminish in width towards the most posterior 
somite. All are smooth, the anterior ones with a faint trace of trisegmentation. 
Dorsal pores. The most anterior one that is distinct is seen between ix—x. 
Between yii/vili and viii/ix there is respectively a much smaller but still distinet pore. 
The most anterior pore is thus between yii/yiil. 
Prostomium is distinet, dividing somite i about $. The anterior somites are 
more distinctly set than the others. A long narrow groove begins on the ventral 
median line between somites xyi and xyiii, and extends backwards about 20 to 25 
