376 MR. F. E. BEDDARD ON THE [Apr. ] 9, 



suboesophageal gland, but the cells become smaller and more flattened, 

 althougli tbev still contain the peculiar yellow granules. 



The vascular cliannels in the walls of the snbcesopliageal glands 

 appeared to be less developed than in the calciterous glands ; I am 

 disposed, however, to think that this was due to accidental causes. 

 As shown in the figure (Plate XXXIII. fig. 3) the contractile 

 " heart " of this segment (h) gives off almost immediately after its 

 origin from the dorsal vessel a conspicuous thin-walled vessel (A') 

 on either side, which passes round the oesophagus, and ends upon the 

 surface of the snboesophageal gland ; it is doubtless concerned with 

 the blood-supply of the gland. 



§ Vascular System. 



The principal vascular trunks correspond to those of most other 

 intra- and post-clitellian worms ; in the oesophageal region there are 

 five longitudinal trunks (I did not observe any lateral vessel), viz. 

 (1) dorsal vessel, (2) supra-intestinal, (3) infra-intestinal, (*J) supra- 

 nervian, and (J>) subneural. There are five pairs of " hearts " 

 encircling the oesophagus : the first of these lies in segment 8, and 

 connects tlie dorsal with the supra-nervian vessel ; the lateral hearts 

 of segments 10, 11, and 12 are also co niected with the supra- 

 intestinal trunk : this did not appear to be the case with the heart 

 of segment 9, although I am not perfectly certain al>out the point. 

 The walls of tlie first four pairs of hearts are very muscular and 

 thick ; this is not the case with the hearts of segment 1 2, which 

 are chiefly concerned with the blood-supply of the calciferous glands 

 of this segment. 



It is wortli pointing out that Eudrihis agrees closely witli Tliamno- 

 drilus (see P. Z. S. 1887, pt. i.) in the number of hearts, and in the 

 fact that the three posterior are intestinal hearts, communicating as 

 they do with the supra-intestinal vessel. 



The ventral oesophageal glands are supplied (see fig. 3) by a 

 blood-vessel which leaves the supra-intestinal and dorsal trunk ; the 

 blood is collected from these glands, and from the walls of the 

 oesophagus generally into the subintestiual vessel. 



Tlie supra- and subintestiual vessels are well developed in the 

 region of tlie oesophagus, being chiefly concerned with the blood- 

 supply of its walls. Each of the vessels (figs. 5, 6, 7) bifurcates in 

 the neighbourhood of the suboesophageal glands, 



§ Nephridin. 



The occurrence of these organs has already been noted by Perrier, 

 who does not, however, give any account of their anatomy. 



His division of the Intraclitellians into two groups, which are 

 characterized by the do; sal or ventral position of the nephridiopore, 

 is clearly inadmissible, since the presei t species agrees with Tit amis 

 and differs from other species of Eudrilus in the fact that the 

 nephridia open by the ventral pair of setse. 



The nephridinm itself (fig. ] 7) consists of a tnbnle of the ordinary 

 structure and coiled upon itself in a very complicated fashion ; the 



