346 MB. F. E. BEDDARD ON EABTHWOBMS [Mar. 16, 



maintained so far as concerns the Patagonian and Cape species. 

 I have pointed out in my Monograph of the Oligochsta the 

 distinctness of the South American Acanthodrili from those of 

 New Zealand. The latter all agree in having nephridia which 

 alternate in position from segment to segment, the external 

 orifices being now in front of the dorsal, now in front of the 

 ventral setfe ; besides this the nephridia show certain differences of 

 structure according to tlieir position. The only exception to this 

 statement is found in the two closely allied species A. annectenit 

 and A. paludosus. These species, however, are different in other 

 particulars from tlie typical Acanthodrili and should perhaps be 

 placed in a genus apart. The Cape species, however, are so 

 like those of South America, that I have more than once in 

 preparing the foregoing descriptions doubted whether I had not 

 before me identical forms from these widely distant localities. 

 Though this is not, I believe, the case, there can be no doubt 

 of their affinity. 



APPENDIX. 



On a new Genus of Earthu'orms belonging to the 

 Family Eudrilidse. 



Among a number of Earthworms which I have recently received 

 from Lagos, West Africa, through the kindness of the authorities 

 at Kew, were two which appear to be representatives of a new 

 genus. 



This makes the seventh genus of BudrilidsB known from the 

 western side of the African continent, the other six being Preussia 

 (Mich.), Paradr-ilus (Mich.), Hyperiodrilus (E. E. B.), HelioJrilus 

 (F. E. B.), Lybiodrilus (F. E. B.), and Alvania (F. E. B.). It is 

 intei-esting to note that the genus which 1 propose to describe in 

 the present communication is nearly akin to several of these and 

 shows no special points of affinity to any East African genus. 

 The distinctness of the West African from the East African 

 EudrilidfB is the most salient fact in the distribution of this family 

 within the continent. But although there are no genera known 

 which range right across Africa, it is not possible to di\ide off the 

 western from the eastern forms. The two subfamilies into which 

 I have thought it admissible to divide the Eudrihdje occur on both 

 coasts. It is noteworthy, however, that, so far as is known, 

 those genera like the present {Hyperiodrilus, Ileliodrilus, Alvania 

 and Lyhiodrilus) which have several gizzards more posterior in 

 situation than is usual are all of thefti inhabitants of West Africa. 

 But this one character, though curious, can hardly be set against 

 the three or four which I have used in the subdivision of the 

 family. 



This new species, for which I propose the name of Ieidodhilus 

 BOSEUS, is a smallish worm of three inches in length. It has 

 no pigment in the skin, or so little as not to intei'fere with the 



