816 MR. F. E. BEDDARD ON [NoV. 3, 



placed ; in A. ungidafus, wliere tlie generative organs are placed 

 behind the clitellum, the latter is developed all round the body as in 

 Perichceta. 



Set (P. In A. nov(P zelandicB and A. dissimilis the setae are 



disposed in four series of pairs, which is the typical arrangement of 

 this genus ; in A. muUiporus, as well as in Lankester's A. kerguele- 

 nensis, the two setae of each pair become widely separated from each 

 other, so that there are eight longitudinal and nearly equidistant 

 rows of a single seta eacli. An intermediate condition is offered by 

 A. schlegelii and A. capensis, where the setae are at first paired but 

 subsequently come to lie further apart. 



I have not been able to detect any characteristic differences in the 

 shape of the setae in the three species. In A. multiporus, and 

 apparently in this species only, the setae are furnished with a pair of 

 remarkable glands which do not seem to have been described in any 

 other Earthworm. I have figured these in a paper upon the 

 nephridia of this species, which will shortly be published in the 

 • Annales des Sciences Naturelles.' These glands are more or less 

 pear-shaped, and terminate in a duct which approaches and possibly 

 pours its secretion into the seta-sac; the relations of these glands to the 

 seta reminded one very forcibly of the sebaceous glands of the hair- 

 follicle to the hair. A considerable space is left in the longitudinal 

 muscle-coat rouud each seta, which is partly occupied by a delicate 

 network of connective tissue, and is traversed by the special muscles 

 which serve to move the seta. In this network the glands referred 

 to lie one rather in front of, and one rather behind the seta ; they 

 are composed of rounded cells each with a very distinct nucleus ; 

 they are not concerned, or at least they are not directly concerned, in 

 the production of new setae. The young setae appear first in the sub- 

 stance of large peculiar cells placed below the setae, as has been 

 described by Perrier and Vejdovsky, which have no relation what- 

 ever to these glands ; it is possible that they produce some poisonous 

 secretion, which secures to the worm protection from its foes ; they 

 may correspond. 



The structure of the integument presents no special peculiarities : 

 the epidermis consists of the ordinary columnar cells, among which are 

 dispersed larger oval glandular cells ; these latter are absent round 

 the various apertures (setae, nephridia, copulatory pouches, &c.) 

 which pierce the integument. Between the epidermis-cells at their 

 bases is a quantity of granular matter which has the appearance of 

 pigment. The ultimate ramifications of the vascular system do not 

 penetrate within the epidermic layer, except in the region of the 

 clitellum ; and I mention this fact because in certain Earthworms the 

 epidermis is vascular. In Megascolex^ and in Perionyx' at any rate 

 there are intra-epithelial capillaries. The study of species of Perionyx 

 from Manilla, which I owe to the kindness of my friend Mr. H. E. 

 Barwell, and which may or may not be identical with the species 

 referred to above, enables me to confirm this statement. 



' Trans. Roy. Soc. Edin. vol. xxx. pt. 2. 

 2 Proc. Euy. Phys. Soc. 1883-84, p. 89. 



