196 OLIGOCHAETA 



lower Oligochaeta, but with no particular resemblance to any one family of these 

 or of the higher Oligochaeta. The family, as already mentioned, contains two genera, 

 Moniligaster and Besmogaster. These two genera are at any rate generally recognized; 

 it is, however, a matter for consideration whether Moniligaster should not be again 

 subdivided into two genera; two species, viz. M. houteni and M. viridis (if they be 

 really distinct) agree in the following points: — 

 (i) The spermiducal glands are long. 

 (2) The ovaries are in segment xiii. 



Probably M. deshayesi belongs to this group, though the incomplete information 

 respecting these points which is given by Pberiee does not allow of any certainty in 

 the matter. 



On the other hand, all the remaining species, of whose anatomy we have anything 

 like a complete account, show the following assemblage of characters: — 



(1) The spermiducal glands are round or oval. 



(2) The ovaries are in segment xi. 



I am inclined to think that a few more characters could be added to these ; possibly 

 the protrusible penis of M. bahamensis and M. indicus are among those characters. 



I do not, however, venture here to divide the genus Moniligaster, as accepted, 

 into two genera, since we are as yet in ignorance of the characters of the considerable 

 numbers of species, briefly recorded by Bourne (2), from India. 



Genus Moniligaster, Pekrier. 



DBPiWiTiOir. One pair of testes, sperm-saes, and sperm-ducts, the latter opening 

 between X/XI ; ovaries in XI or XIII ; spermatheca usually in VIII, with long 

 duct ; three to five gizzards ; a protrusible penis sometimes present. 



There has been a great deal of discussion as to the actual facts in the 

 anatomy of this genus, let alone the conclusions to be drawn from the facts. 

 The original description given by Perkier (3) was in some respects inaccurate, as 

 has been subsequently shown by myself (19), Horst (1), and Eosa (11). Perkier 

 thought that the worm possessed two pairs of male-ducts and pores; the mistake 

 arose through his having confounded the spermathecae with an anterior pair of 

 spermiducal glands. 



There has been also some confusion as regards the position of the vaiious organs 

 — a confusion which is still, perhaps, hardly dissipated. For the observations of 

 Horst (1), upon a large species of the genus from Sumatra, seem to show that the 



