614 OLIGOCHAETA 



This species evidently comes near to the last. It has the same character, only 

 rather more pronounced. But there are also differences. The duct of the spermiducal 

 glands, instead of arising from one end arises in the middle : and the spermathecal 

 sac arises as two tubes from the terminal bursa, instead of being at first single and 

 then dividing as in the last species. The sperm-sacs extend back as far as the 

 sixtieth segment, being wide from the thirty-fourth. Both the bursa and the two 

 copulatory glands on the male apparatus can be protruded. 



Genus Pbeussia, Michaelsen. 



Definition. Lateral setae strictly paired; ventral setae more separated. Male 

 pore on XVII or XVIl/XVIII. Spermathecal pore on XV. Gizzard small 

 or rudimentary ; calciferous glands and median calciferous pouches present. 

 Median spermathecal sac with two diverticula, into which open oviducal 

 funnels. Ovaries in a large sac. Penial setae. 



The female organs of reproduction are different in detail from those of any other 

 Eudrilid ; they are only known in the species Preussia siphonochaeta ; the median 

 pore upon the fifteenth segment leads into a moderately long spermathecal sac, which 

 extends back as far as to the nineteenth segment anteriorly — that is near to its 

 external pore — this sac is furnished with two thin- walled sacs ; into these open the 

 oviducts. About half way between this internal aperture and the external pore 

 the oviduct of each side has a receptaculum ; the oviduct makes a sharp bend between 

 the internal opening and the egg-sac, reaching back as far as the middle of the 

 fifteenth segment. If the body identified as 'the egg-sac by Michaelsen is really 

 such, the ■ entire stretch of ' oviduct ' between this and the sac into which it finally 

 opens must be a long drawn-out funnel. The ovaries themselves lie in the usual 

 position; they appear to be enclosed in a common sac, the nature of whose com- 

 munication with the rest of the apparatus is a matter of uncertainty. 



(i) Preussia siphonochaeta, Michaelsen. 

 p. siphonochaeta, Michaelsen, JB. Hamb. wiss. Anst., viii, 1891, p. 23. 



Definition. Length, 105 mm.; breadth, 4^ mm.; numier of segments, 138. Clitellum, 

 Xni-XVIII. Gizzard rudimentary in VI. Penial setae smooth. Hah. — W. Africa. 



The prostomium of this species is prolonged on to the buccal segment. Michaelsen 

 has not mentioned the presence of ventral calciferous pouches, which exist in the 

 other species of the genus. The intestine has a typhlosole. 



