948 MR. H. R. MEHRA ON TWO NEW INDIAN 



resemble the webbed setse described by Lankester in Tuhifex, but 

 for the prongs at the sides of the web. The distal end may be 

 either rounded or bluntly pointed. Their length as measured in 

 two specimens is 66-69 /x in one and 78-80 /z in the other ; the 

 nodulus here also is situated near the distal extremity, the 

 proportions of the distances proximal and distal to it being 2 : 1 

 as in the ordinary needles. The oar-shaped needles are less 

 numerous and are often found in the segments in front of the 

 middle of the body (in A, reniex these setse begin in segment 13 

 in one specimen and 7 in another, but they continue to the hinder 

 end of the body). The thin flattened distal end shows com- 

 paratively faintly, is marked by one or two vertical lines and has 

 not the distinct outline of the rest of the shaft. 



The ventral sette (text-fig. 1, E) are, generally speaking, similar 

 to the forked needles of the dorsal bundles. The iinier prong is 

 much broader, about four times as thick or even more than the 

 outer one, which looks like a fine process and in length may be as 

 long as or slightly shorter than the inner one. The shaft of the 

 seta in the posterior part of the body is shorter and more strongly 

 curved than in the anterior part. In the anterior part of the 

 body their length is 90-100 /x, in the posterior 60-70 /x. The 

 nodulus is situated here also much nearer the distal end, the 

 proportions being — the distance proximal to nodulus : distance 

 distal to nodulus : 3:2 in the setee in the anterior part, and 

 about 2 : 1 in those of the posterior part of the body. 



The penial setee are always present during the sexual phase, 

 and in this species are the modified venti-al setsie of the 7th 

 segment. They lie (PI. I. fig. 1) inside the spermiducal chamber 

 and posterior to the openings of the atrial (ejaculatory) ducts. In 

 one specimen tlie penial setae occupied a position anterior to these 

 openings. Their number is 1-3, generally 2 per bundle. Their 

 length is about "25 mm. The form of the seta (text-fig. 1,F) is 

 very different from that of any of the dorsal or ventral setae. The 

 shaft is slightly curved and is somewhat broadened in its distal 

 portion ; its tip comes to a fine point and looks somewhat like 

 the end of a spear. The distal portion has a blade-like inner 

 edge and an outer narrow thick border, which is continuous with 

 the thick proximal part. There is a narrow longitudinal de- 

 pression on one face of the blade, which gives it to some extent 

 the appearance of a spoon. The bi'eadth at the base of the 

 shaft is about 7 /i, while at the distal expanded portion near the 

 tip it is about 12 /x. 



(b) Internal Anatomy. 



The cuticle lines the spermiducal chamber, which is therefore 

 to be considered as a depression of the ventral body-wall. Large 

 mucous cells are a prominent feature of the surface epithelium ; 

 these no doubt secrete the mucus, which with the addition of 

 foreign particles forms the tube of the worm. The cells of the 



