682 MR. F. E. BEDDARD ON NEW [DcC. 20, 



the space between the ventral pairs of setae, where there is no develop- 

 ment of the clitellum at all. 



The setae are strictly paired and are all ventral in position ; the 

 distance between the two ventral pairs is about half again as great as 

 that between a ventral and a lateral pair ; there is no specialization 

 of the setse anywhere except upon the xviith, xviiith, and xixth 

 segments ; the ventral pairs of setae are absent from all of tiiese 

 segments ; on segments xvii. and xix. their place is taken by the 

 penial setae. I have already commented upon the apparently 

 universal absence of the ventral setae of segment xviii. in the genus 

 Benhamia. 



Between segments viii./ix. and ix./x. there is a single oval papilla 

 lying in a position which corresponds to the interval between the 

 two ventral pairs of setae. 



The oviducal pores lie in front of the outer of the two ventral 

 setae on each side. 



The alimentary canal has two gizzards ; there are the usual three 

 pairs of calciferous glands in segments xv., xvi., xvii. ; that section of 

 the oesophagus from which they arise is of a very narrow calibre ; but 

 from the xviiith segment the alimentary canal widens out very greatly 

 and forms a dilated and thin-walled region without any typhlosole, 

 which should perhaps be reckoned as belonging to the oesophagus. 

 The intestine proper begins in segment xxii.; the buccal cavity is 

 remarkable for the fact that it has a short caecum on the dorsal 

 surface, which differs from the rest of the buccal cavity in the 

 character of its lining epithelium ; the cells which constitute the 

 innermost layer of this caecum are Hke those of the epidermic layer ; 

 the cells are of two kinds, there being; amona; them cells with clear 

 contents and not staining deeply with borax carmine, which are 

 exceedingly like the gland-cells of the integument. I comment later 

 upon the similarity which this worm shows in the said particular 

 to a representative of a totally distinct genus (Microdrilus ex fam. 

 Cryptodrilidae). 



The nephridia in the posterior part of the body, that is to 

 say behind the clitellum, are enveloped in a thick mass of vesicular 

 cells, a condition which is very common among tropical Earth- 

 worms ; the nephridia are of course " diffuse," and there is a mucous 

 gland. 



The reproductive organs show one peculiarity not common among 

 Earthworms — the terminal part of the vas deferens is ensheathed in 

 a muscular coat of some thickness ; it is only from the xvith segment 

 to the opening of the tube that this muscular coat is to be seen ; the 

 penial setae are wavy at the extremity, being bent into a spiral with 

 not very close coils; on the last bit of the seta are a very few 

 denticulations with their apices directed forwards. 



From Lagos I have also received examples of what I believe to be 

 Michaelsen's Benhamia bo/avi ; this same species has also turned up 

 from Dominica, Trinidad, Jamaica, St. Vincent, and, more remark- 

 ably still, from Seebpore, near Calcutta. I cannot distinguish 

 any of these individuals from Benhamia bolavi as described by 



