DESCRIPTIONS OF GENERA AND SPECIES 



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Definition. Length, ^^ mm.; number of segments, ']^; setae, ^-^ {rarely 6) 2}er bundle. Brain 

 slightly concave -behind. Nephridia with only funnel anteseptal Sperm-duct funnels very 

 longs duct of spermatheca as long as, and sharply marked off from, pouch, and beset with 

 glands along entire length. Hab. — Nova Zembla ; Siberia; Denmark; Germany. Sea-shore. 



The above list of synonyms is adopted on the authority of Michaelsen, and E. humicultor 

 is added on that of Ude ; the name, therefore, of the species must be altered from E. vejdovskii 

 to E. humicultor. Michaelsen's identification of six differently named species -with E. vejdovskii 

 depends, not on a mere collating of the various descriptions given, but upon an examination of most of 

 the types; it is clear, therefore, that there is no choice but to follow him. Eisen has stated that 

 E. stuxhergi has red-coloured blood; but, as Michaelsen has pointed out, this apparept difference 

 from E. mobii, &c., is not to be regarded, as the worm was not examined in the fresh condition. 

 Moreover, half of the material labelled by Eisen E. stuxhergi is really made up of specimens of 

 Pachydrilus nervosvs, which, of course, has red blood. As for the two species described by 

 Levinsen, and referred to this species, I do not gather that Michaelsen examined type-specimens ; 

 the synonym, P. lacteus of Taxjbee, I understand Michaelsen to have introduced on the authority of 

 Levinsen. The chief reason for believing in the identity of E. sordidus and E. fucorum with 

 E. vejdovskii, &c., appears to be in the similarity of the spermathecae with their continuous coating of 

 gland-cells upon the duct. The sole difference between Vejdovsky's E. humicultor and E. vejdovskii 

 is in the presence in the former of dorsal pores ; Ude, who considers these species to be the same, 

 points out that the presence of these pores requires verification. They are, however, figured by 

 Vejdovsky (3, PI. V, fig. 6). I may mention another small difference ; Michaelsen, in his account 

 of the anatomy of 'Enchytraeus mobii' (the most complete account of the species), states that the 

 dorsal vessel springs from the blood-sinus of the intestine in the fifteenth segment, and that it is 

 dilated in this and the two segments lying in front into hearts. On the other hand, Vejdovsky 

 described and figured the dorsal vessel as arising in the seventeenth segment, and the hearts as lying in 

 segments xvi, xv, xiv. Ude has neglected this point, which, however, inay not be a serious matter of 

 difference. In other respects the two species undoubtedly agree. 



E. humicultor has the same long sperm-duct funnel, and the duct of the sper- 

 matheca is, in the same way as in ^E. mobii,' Sec, beset with glands along its whole 

 course ; the nephridia in every case have an anteseptal portion, which consists 

 only of the funnel. Between the male-pores is an area of the clitellum devoid of 

 glandular modification. Four perivisceral trunks connect dorsal and ventral vessel, 

 of which the two middle pairs belong to the fourth segment. 



(2) Encliytraeus spiculus, Fket and Leuckart. 



B. spiculus, Frey and Leuckakt, Beitr. Kennt. wirbell. Th., 1847, p. 150. 



E. ? spiculus, Taubee, Ann. Dan., 1879, p. 73. 

 Definition. Length, to mm.; number of segments about 30; setae 4-6 (rarely 8) per bundle. 

 Anteseptal portion of nephridium with straight duct. Brain deeply cleft behind. Hab. — 

 Heligoland; Cuxhaven; Wilhelmshaven. 



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