PACIFIC COAST OLIGOCHRTA. 151 
SPARGANOPHILUS Benham. 
Drrrnrrion. Aquatic oligochata. Tight sete in four couples. Prostomium 
not marked off from peristomium, but Surnished with a superior pit. Few dorsal pores. 
Clitellum very large, from eight to twelve somites. No penial sete. Spermathecw in 
bu, vii and ix, from two to eight in each somite. Sperm-sacs in xi and xii, racemose. 
Speemduct always subepidermal. Male pore xvii/ix, or anterior part of xix. Pros- 
tates generally present in three or four pairs situated several somites posterior to the 
spermiducal pores. No gizzards, no caleiferous diverticula, no typhlosole. Four pairs 
of hearts. Two pairs of lateral, longitudinal integumental vessels extending forward 
From somite wiv, not connecting anteriorly with the gut-wall and median trunks. 
Nephridia meganephric, commence in somite wii or wiii. 
Principal species characters are derived from the position of the sete; number 
and shape of spermathece in each somite; lobulation of the sperm-sacs; course of the 
spermducts; shape and position of tubercula pubertatis, whether dorsal or ventral, to 
the male pore or spermduct; extent of clitellum; presence of a subpharyngeal integ- 
umental gland in iii; length of worm and number of somites, ete. 
GENERAL REMARKS. 
The first species belonging to this genus was described by Benham from the 
river Thames in England. Later, Frank Smith described another species from North 
America and it became doubtful, as first suggested by Benham, if the genus was 
originally an American or European one. The very restricted locality or habitat of 
the European species would indicate its probable importation from some other country, 
and when the American species was found it became almost certain that we had to 
search for the original home of this genus on the American continent. Already 
When Benham’s paper was published [ had in my possession specimens of this genus 
from Guatemala, California and the Central North American States, and there 
remained no doubt in my mind as to the native habitat of the genus. As it now stands 
we have seven species sufficiently well defined to be recognized and one more of which 
no detailed description can be had, but of which we know enough to be able to 
recognize it should it again be observed. Of these eight species then seven are 
American and one European, and everything points to the probability that the latter 
one is a lately imported species to England most likely from this country, as Ben- 
ham originally supposed. 
The species described here below are not. of equal value as species as might 
be naturally inferred. Four of the species are well defined, which principally 
is due to better preserved and abundant material for study. These species are: Spar- 
ganophilus tamesis, Biseni, Benhamiand Smithi. Two are less well-known, due entirely 
to want of sufficient well preserved material. These species are Sparganophilus car- 
neus and guatemalensis, both of which may prove only varities of Sp. Benhami. The 
remaining species Sparganuphilus sonome may prove a variety of Sparganophilus 
Smithi, but just as such all the more interesting. 
A point of unusual interest in this genus is the presence of prostates, or, as 
