1901.] FROM BRITISH EAST AFRICA. 363 



uo material for comment. They are quite normal in position and 

 structure. 



The spermathecce are rather peculiar. There are two pairs, 

 which lie in segments viii., ix. Each consists of an oval sae 

 with a simple lining of cells and a very thin muscular wall ; this 

 communicates with the exterior by an exti-emely long slender 

 duct, which is much longer than the pouch itself, and is so thin as 

 to hardly exceed the dimensions of the sperm-duct. There is no 

 trace of a diverticulum. On the left-hand side of segment viii, 

 there were, in the single example of the species wliich 1 ha^'e had 

 for investigation, two spermathecse, each with its separate long 

 duct. The two pouches appeared to communicate. It is clear 

 that the spermathec* of the present species closely resemble those 

 of G. tenuis in the length of their ducts. 



It is plain that the species described in the present communi- 

 cation not only, as already pointed out, bridges over tlie not very 

 wide gap which has hitherto separated the two genera Gordiodrihis 

 and Nannodrilus, but that it also counects the somewhat extreme 

 Oordiodrilus tenuis with the more " normal "' species of the genus. 

 The peculiarities of G. tenuis would seem almost to necessitate its 

 inclusion in a separate genus. The existence of only a single pair 

 of testes and of sperm-ducts and the backvs'ard position of the 

 male orifices, together with the curious form of the spermathecce, 

 are three points which might be regarded as collectively entitling 

 to generic separation. Gordiodrilus papiUatus, however, Avhile 

 agreeing with G. tenuis in the form of the spermathecee, in the 

 large size of the ventral setse, and approaching it in the position 

 of the male genital orifices, has the normal pair of testes in each 

 of segments x. and xi. The clitellum, too, is like that of other 

 species, and is not so prolonged as is the clitellum of G. tenuis. 

 The setce, moreover, do not show throughout the body such 

 a marked discrepancy of size as is exhibited by the species 

 G. tenuis. 



I shall conclude with a brief definition of 



Gordiodrilus papillatus, n. sp. 



Length 63 mm. Setae of ventral pairs larger. Male pores on 

 xix., XX., and xix./xx. Grizzard absent. Four pairs of genital 

 papillae on xix., xx., and three median papdlge on xxiv., xxv., 

 xxvi. Testes two pairs. Sperm-ducts open into a muscidar 

 bursa. Spermathecae, two pairs without diverticula and with 

 enormously long and slender duct. 



Ilab. Lagos. 



Gordiodrilus robustus. 



G. robustus, F. E. Beddard, Ann. Xat. Hist. (6) x. p. 82 ; id. 

 Mon. Olig. 1895, p. 508. 



G. robustus, Michaelsen, Oligochseta, Das Tierreich, Lief. x. 

 1900, p. 374. 



Two examples of this species allow of certain additions to the 



