1130 I)R. J. STEPHENSON ON TUE OLIGOCH^ETA OF THE 



and Alaska). It diflers apparently in the sliape of the setse, in 

 the place of origin of the dorsal vessel (in L. franciscanus it arises, 

 according to the shoi't diagnosis, in segm. xiv. or xv,, but in the 

 detailed description it " has already arisen in xvi. How much 

 further posteriorly it extends I do not know, as I did not section 

 further'"), in the rather greater extent of the clitellum, and in 

 the more restricted distribution of the copulatory glands (clitellum 

 O'ver segms. xii.-xiii., glands in xiv.-XA-i. in L. frcmciscanus). 



LUMBRICILLUS NECKOPHAGUS, sp. n.* 



Spitsbersfen ; in dead seal, at high-tide mark on shore, by Bruce 

 City at head of Klaas Billen Bny in Icef jord ; 25.vii!l921. A 

 number of specimens. 



Length up to 15 mm.; maximum diameter •4-'55 mm., but 

 many are thinner. Colour pale yellowish. Segments 51-53. 

 Prostomium blunt, rounded. No mucous cells in epidermis. 



The surface is covered with a moderately thick cuticle, con- 

 siderably thicker and more noticeable than that of the last species. 

 Clitellum ^xi.-xiii. ( = 24) ; in sections the extent appears to be 

 rather diflerent — it includes a little of xi. and gets slightly on to 

 xiv. also. 



The sette are enchytrjeiiie in form (I think I have occasionally 

 detected a hint of a distal curvature) and blunt, rounded, or even 

 squarish at their tips. The A'entral bundles contain in front of 

 the clitellum mostly 4 (occasionally 5 or 3) setfe and behind the 

 clitellum 3. The lateral bundles have usually 3 (occasionally 4 or 

 2) in front of, and 3 or 2 behind, the clitellum. 



The septal glands are bulky, the last, in segm. vi., causing a 

 backward bulging of the septum. 



The postphai'yngeal bulbs arise from a ti-ansversely placed 

 groove-like evagination of the alimentar}' tube behind the pharyn- 

 geal mass. Each is a slender elongated cord of cells, i-ather 

 swollen at its distal end, its general direction nearly vertical, and 

 solid except in its proximal third or less, Avhere there is a narrow 

 lumen. 



Chloragoo'en cells beo-in in seem. v. 



The oesophageal epithelium is being thrown oflP into the cavity 

 of the tube ; the cells lie loose in the lumen, and there is a copious 

 granular substance between them and the remainder of the 

 oesophageal Avail. Similarly, the intestinal epithelium is dis- 

 integrating or has disajDpeared over large areas ; the intestinal 

 tube is full of a fainth' staining granular substance, or of what is 

 apparently a disintegrating cell-mass; sometimes the epithelium 

 is separating in sheets, and the lumen is half empty. The 

 intestinal tube is much swollen out, and the ccelom is almost 

 obliterated in parts, the nephridia being pressed against the 



'"^ 'iiieKpo(pa.yos, devouring- corpses. 



