1892.] SPECIES OF EARTHWORMS. 701 



though this seems to be perfectly similar to the arrangement 

 figured by Michaelsen ^ for Notykus emini, I am inclined to think 

 that in the latter there is a distinct sac independent of the septa. 



VI. Family Geoscolecid^e. 



15. Trichochseta barbadensis, n. sp. 



I have examined a single specimen of this species which I received 

 alive from Kew ; it is a native of Barbadoes. 



The worm was 24 mm. long and consisted of 84 segments ; the 

 colour during life was red, the skin containing no pigment. 



The setae are paired, their shape is precisely that of Trichochceta 

 hesperidum, a new genus and species of Earthworms which I have 

 recently ^ described from the island of Jamaica. On the clitellum 

 the setse appeared to be rather larger than those upon the other 

 segments of the body, and the ornamentation at the tip a little more 

 pronounced. Although the setse in the present species show no 

 trace of the characteristic irregularity of TrichochcBta hesperidum, 

 I do not hesitate to place them in the same genus on account of 

 the peculiar form of the setse, which is unmatched in any other 

 Oligochset. At first one would be inclined to regard the irregularity 

 of the setse as a mark of generic distinction ; but it must be borne 

 in mind that in Fontoscolex, as was first pointed out by Fritz 

 Miiller ^, and I have been able to confirm his discovery, the setse 

 are occasionally regular and paired. 



The clitellum, exceptionally for the family Geoscolecidse, is 

 complete ; that is to say, there is no ventral tract free from 

 glandular tissue. Rosa has used the saddle-shaped clitellum as one 

 of the characters of the Geoscolecidse ; the present species shows 

 that this character can be no longer used. The clitellum extends 

 from the xiiith segment to the xxiiud. 



The prostomium appeared, before the worm was examined by 

 means of sections, to resemble that of Bhinodrilus or TrichochcBta 

 hesperidum, that is to say it lay apparently in the mouth instead of 

 projecting above it. In longitudinal section, however, this appear- 

 ance is seen to be largely due to the retraction of the prostomium, 

 which is perhaps facilitated by the division of the first segment 

 into two annuli by a groove. 



The nephridia are paired, the first pair being rather larger than 

 those which follow : the large size of the first pair of nephridia is 

 commonly found to be a character of the Geoscolecidse ; it is hardly 

 so pronounced in the present species as in Pontoscolex for example. 

 The duct of this nephridium is long and appears to open on to the 

 exterior on the third segment. 



As to the vascular system, the only point that I particularly note 

 is the presence of a pair of large hearts in each of segments x., xi. 



1 " Beschreibung cler von Herrn Dr. Fr. Stuhlmann auf Sansibar &c.," JB. 

 Hamb. wiss. Anst. ix. 



2 Q. J. M. S. Jan. 1893, p. 252. 



^ " Description of a new Species of Earthworm," Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. ser. 2, 

 vol. XX. p. 13 (translated from a paper in the Arch. f. Naturg.). 



Proc. Zool. Soc.~1892. No. XL VII. 47 



