1904.] EARTHWORMS FROM NEW ZEALAND. 257 



and if such a duct exists in jy. orthostichon, it seems unlikely that 

 it would have escaped Beddard's notice. Moreover, in T. maorica 

 the chsetal formula is different, whereas in T. kirki it is similar 

 to that of JV. orthostichon, and the spermatheca is without a 

 distinct muscular duct. The only other characters are the extent 

 of the clitellum and its size. 



Beddard gives the former as occupying segments 14 to 17 

 inclusive, whereas in my species it begins at segment 1 3 ; and as 

 to size, Schmarda gives it as 80 cm. x 4 cm., with 60 segments — 

 distinctly smaller than T. hirki, though approximately that of 

 T. maorica. 



It appears, then, to be distinct from either of the two species 

 possessing only two pairs of spermathecse ; for, apart from any 

 similarities, the prostate in those two species is of considerable 

 length. But it agrees more closely with T. huttoni, in size, in 

 chsetal formula, extent of clitellum, and small size of prostate ; 

 but in that species there are three paii's of spermathecse. 



So far, then, as our information allows us to judge, Schmarda's 

 species is distinct from any of those described in the present 

 paper ; and we have not sufficient information to allow us to say 

 definitely that it even belongs to the genus Tokea, although it 

 appears not improbable that it does so ; but Beddard states that 

 the sperm-sacs number three pairs, and occupy segments 10, 

 11, 12 — an unusual arrangement, even in Notoscolex, where 11, 

 12 is the more general position. 



Remarks on the Genera Megascolides and Notoscolex. 



It is very e%'ident that this new genus Tokea is nearly allied to 

 the Oryptodriline genera Megascolides and Notoscolex ; but it 

 appears to me to differ in details from either of them. It is 

 notoriously difficult to define these Australian genera ; and it is 

 unfortunate that the opinions of our two leading systematists, 

 Beddard and Michaelsen, are absolutely at variance as to the 

 characters and limitations of the genus Megascolides. 



This name was given by Prof. M'Coy in 1878 to a worm, M. aus- 

 tralis, which, at a later j)eriod, received full anatomical treatment 

 at the hands of Baldwin Spencer (1888) ; and this it is which 

 Michaelsen (1900) takes as the type of the genus, of which he 

 gives this diagnosis (p. 182, translation) : " Eight ch^etse ; clitellum 

 beginning at or before segment 14 and extending over 6 to 

 9| segments. One pair of female pores ; spermathecal pores 2 

 to 5 pairs, the last being on 8/9. Gizzard 5 or 6, or 5 and 6. 

 Excretory organs consist of diffuse nephridia, to which is added a 

 pair of vieganephridia in each of the posto^ior segments. Prostate 

 tubular (sometimes lobate)." (Italics are Michaelsen's.) 



It will be seen, then, that in some of the above characters the 

 new genus agrees with Megascolides, and notably in the co- 

 existence, in the hinder segments, of meganephridia with micro- 



Proc. Zool. Soc— 1904, Yol. II. No. XYIT. 17 



