506 OLIGOCHAETA 



only found in the genera Allolobophora and Lumbricus. I have commented elsewhere 

 on the curious points of similarity between this genus and Benhamia. 



Microdrilus saliens, Beddard. 

 M. saliens, Beddard, P. Z. S., 1893, p. 683. 



Definition. Length, about 25 mm. Glitellum, XIII-XIX. complete except on XIX. Calaiferous 

 gland on XF, XVI, XVII, the anterior pair only open into gut. Setae paired. Dorsal 

 pores commence IV/V. Oviducal pores to inside of ventral setae. Spermathecae two 

 pairs with a single caecum. Penial setae undulated at extremity with fine notches at 

 each bend. Hob. — Java, Penang. 



This species when alive showed the extreme agility of movement so characteristic 

 of the genus Ferichaeta. The spermiducal glands open independently of the sperm- 

 ducts on to a semicircular elevation with a pore at each end ; these large papillae 

 are very conspicuous, and are so arranged that the straight side of each is opposed 

 to that of the other. The sperm-duct is invested for the last two segments of its 

 course by a thick muscular coat as in Benhamia crassa. The intestine begins in 

 segment xviii. 



Genus Gordiodbilus, Beddard. 



DEPliriTioiir. Small slender Oligochaeta with paired setae. Nephridia paired. 

 Gizzard generally absent ; a single median'(rarely paired) calciferous gland in IX 

 of peculiar structure. Hearts in X, XI. Spermiducal glands, two pairs (rarely 

 one pair) with epithelial lining only one cell thick^ opening in consecutive 

 segments. Sperm-duet pore on XVIII (or XX) independent of spermiducal 

 glands. Spermathecae two pairs (rarely one or absent) in VIII, IX, with at 

 most rudimentary diverticula. Septal glands present in V-VII or VIII. 



This genus is. with the exception of Gordiodrilus dominicensis, confined to tropical 

 Africa, preponderating greatly on the west side of the continent. Though apparently 

 closely related to Ocnerodrilus and Pygniaeodrilus, it is to be distinguished from 

 both by the peculiar structure of the calciferous gland, which is moreover, excepting 

 in G. robustus, unpaired. The separate aperture of the sperm-duct is another point 

 which separates this genus from the other two, as is also its position (on the eighteenth 

 instead of the seventeenth segment). 



