496 OLIGOCHAETA 



diffuse, with larger paired tubes posteriorly. Sjierm-sacs in XI-XIV on posterior septum. 

 Spermathecae in VIII-IX, with rosette-like caecum. Hah. — Gippsland, Victoria. 



The reason for Fletcher placing his species in a diflferent species from McCoy's 

 was chiefly the inaccurate description given by the latter. It is not, however, clear why 

 Fletchee should have considered it right to give a new generic name to his species, 

 for the differences which he enumerates are hardly so important as would warrant this 

 course. In any case the description given by Fletcher is confirmed in almost every 

 particular by Spencer (1), and the species is the best known of all the members of the 

 genera Cryptodrilus and Megascolides. I deal elsewhere with such anatomical points 

 as are of more than specific importance. The most remarkable feature in its organiza- 

 tion is, in many respects, the extraordinary extension of the sperm-sacs ; it is, of 

 course, possible that the two pairs of the thirteenth and fourteenth segments are 

 really egg-sacs ; but their large size is against this supposition, and Spencer distinctly 

 speaks of sperm in their interior. The dorsal blood-vessel is enclosed in a sac 

 which gives off lateral diverticula filled with corpuscles ; Deinodrilus is the only 

 other earthworm in which the dorsal vessel is thus enclosed in a pericardium. 



The development of the nephridia has been studied by Vejdovsky (4)- 



(24) Megascolides orthostichon (Schmaeda). 



Hypogaeon orthostiehon, Schmarda, Neue wirbell. Th. I. ii (1861), p. 12. 

 M. orthostiehon, Beddard, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. Feb., 1892, p. 130. 



Definition. Length, 180 mm.; number of segments, 65. Glitetlum, XIV-XFII, complete. 

 Setae in eight equidistant rows. Male por^s correspond to ventral setae, which are 

 wanting. No genital papillae. Gizzard in V. Nephridia diffuse. Sperm-sacs in X-XII. 

 Spermathecae in VIII, IX, with pyriform caecum. Hab. — New Zealand. 

 This species is chiefly interesting on account of the fact that it occurs in New 

 Zealand, which is, unlike Australia, not inhabited by many Cryptodrilids ; unfor- 

 tunately, my description of its structure is far from being complete, owing to the 

 fact that I had only the type of Schmaeda, which it was necessary to respect. Hence 

 the definition of this worm is not so satisfactory; it appears, however, to be distinct 

 from any other species of the genus. 



(25) Megascolides perrieri (Benham). 

 Plutellus perrieri, Benham, P. Z. S., 1892, p. 138. 

 Definition. Length, ^o mm. ; diameter, 4 mm.; number of segments, 126. Prostomium 



