440 OLIGOCHAETA 



pair occupy a corresponding position on the foUowiag segment ; on xvii there are 

 five papillae ; and finally there are six on xx. The egg-sacs are large in xiv, racemose 

 in form, and the ova which lie within them are covered with younger germinal cells. 



(2) Diporochaeta barronensis, Fletchek. 



Periehaeta barronensis, Fletcher, Proc. Linn. Soc, N. S. W. (a), i, 1886, p. 960. 



Definition. Length, 63 mm.; diameter, 4 mm.; number of segments, 125- CUtellum, 

 XIV— XVII. Setae about 40 ^er segment, with prominent gaps. Dorsal pores iegin 

 IV/V. Gizzard in VII (f) ; no distinct calciferons glands; intestine begins in XVI. 

 Last hearts in XIII. Sperm-sacs in X-XII ; spermathecae in V—VII each with a 

 diverticulum. Hal. — Barron river, N. Queensland. 



There are a few points about this species which require clearing up ; the 

 nephridia are stated to be paired ; but it is, of course, possible that in addition to 

 these there may be the small diffuse groups of tubes. The spermiducal glands are 

 thus described by Fletchee ' their proximal portion long, narrow, continuous with 

 the genital ducts, looking more like convoluted thick walled tubes than solid glands, 

 their distal portions a little more compact,' &c. ; the question is, whether by this 

 description Fletchee intends to say that they are tubular as in Diporochaeta, or 

 whether they are like the spermiducal glands of other Megascolex. There appear to 

 be no genital papillae. 



(3) Diporochaeta bakeri, Fletcher. 



Periehaeta Bakeri, Fletcher, loc. cit. (2), ii, 1887, p. 616. 



Definition. Length, 9a mm. ; diameter, 6 mm. ; number of segments, 140. Colour {in spirit) 



a dark purplish. Prostomium completely divides buccal ring, marked above by a 



longitudinal groove. Setae stouter and longer in anterior segments, I'i-'ijS per segment, 



with gaps. CUtellum, XIII- XVII . Oviducal pores paired. Dorsal pores commence 



IV/V. Genital papillae a pair on XVII/ XVIII-XX/ XXI. Gizzard in V ; intestine 



begins in XVII. Last hearts in XII. Sperm-sacs in IX, XII; spermathecae in V-IX 



with a diverticulum. Penial setae present. Hab. — Gippsland, Victoria. 



This species also is, perhaps rightly, to be referred to Megascolex ; it seems to have 



paired nephridia; but here, again, we may eventually learn that there are the 



minute tufts of tubules which characterize other Megascolex. The spermiducal 



glands are said by Fletchee to be 'a, long narrow body coiled into a compact 



mass.' This seems like a tubular gland ; and if such really exists it will be 



