386 OLIGOCHAETA 



(39) Megascolex coeruleus, Templeton. 



M. coeruleus, Templeton, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., 1845, p. 60. 

 Periehaeta leueocycla, Schmakda, Neue wirbell. Thiere, I. ii., p. 13. 

 Pleurochaeta moseleyi, Beddaed, Tr. Roy. Soc. Ed., 1880, p. 481. 

 M. moseleyi, Vaillant, Annel^s, p. 67. 

 M. leucocyclus, Vaillant, ibid , p. 87. 



Definition. Length, 32 in. ; number of segments, 370. Clitelhim, XIII/XXI, and saddle- 

 shaped posteriorly, with setae. Male pores ventrad of ventralmost seta of segment XVIII; 

 between XVII/XVIII, XVIII/XIX a pair of papillae, corresponding in position which are 

 the orifices of small white glands. Setae, 140 in posterior segments, only ^6 on V. Dorsal 

 ■pores commence VI/VII. Septa begin IV/V ; septa VIII/XIII thickened. Gizzard in V. 

 Calciferous glands in X-XV; intestine begins in XVII, in segments CXII-CXXXIII a series 

 of intestinal glands. Dorsal blood-vessel double anteriorly. Spermathecae in VIII, 

 IX, loiih a small caecum. Spermiducal glands small and compact. Hob. — Ceylon. 



This species has been investigated anatomically by myself (2) and Bourne (4). 

 The synonymy is rather complex, as the species has had no less than three names 

 given to it on account of the imperfect descriptions of those who first dealt with its 

 characters. I do not think that it is possible to separate from this species Rosa's 

 M. templetonianus. He has, however, as yet, only published a short note of it, so 

 it is impossible to speak positively. He distinguishes M. coeruleus by the absence 

 of diverticula to the spermathecae and by its double dorsal vessel ; but these characters 

 are described differently by Bourne and by myself, and yet we were dealing, I imagine, 

 with the same species. More recently Ude (4) has dealt with M. 'templetoni- 

 anus': he describes the spermathecae as more elongated in form than I found them 

 in M. coeruleus, and with a minute diverticulum. 



In Megascolex coeruleus the longitudinal trunks are connected by peripheral branches, 

 which have the following arrangements : there are no direct communications between the 

 main longitudinal trunks by means of capillary networks ; the capillary networks are 

 either intestinal or tegumentary. In the alimentary canal there are two networks, one 

 more superficial, the other deeper. The internal network is so dense 'that it may be 

 regai'ded as a blood sinus interrupted at certain spots.' The network is perfectly 

 continuous from segment to segment, and in the typhlosolar region has a greater 

 development of the longitudinal meshes. This network is directly connected with 

 the dorsal vessel by means of the dorso-intestinal vessels. These latter do not 

 commence before segment ten ; in that segment and up to the thirteenth there are two 



