32 



Benhamia Michaelsen. 



1. Benhamia Annae l ) n. sp. 



Java: Buitenzorg, several specimens. 



The lenght of the largest specimen is 30 mm.; the number of its 

 segments amounts to about 85. The body is cylindrical, having nearly 

 the same diameter over its total length. The skin is colourless and 

 in the posterior region of the body so thin , that the segmental organs 

 are visible through it. 



The prostomium impinges only for a short distance into the 

 buccal segment ; the buccal region of the intestinal canal is everted 

 in all specimens. The cl it ell um is very obvious and complete, 

 extending from segment XIII (XIV) to XXI. The prostate-pores 

 upon segment XVII and XIX, are situated on a transverse, oval area, 

 that is somewhat elevated; a longitudinal groove, as in other species, 

 connects the two orifices of each side (PI. II. fig. 2). In transverse sec- 

 tions this groove can be seen situated at the internal side of a ridge- 

 shaped thickening of the hypodermis (fig. 1); the area between these 

 ridges wants the strong glandular development of the dorsal side of 

 the body, nevertheless it has a somewhat convex shape. Therefore it 

 appears to me not permitted to say, that the prostates open here in 

 a pit or fossa, as in other ÄmAamm-species. 



The first dorsal pore is situated in the intersegmental groove IV/V. 

 The setae are arranged in four couples; they are situated at the 

 ventral side of the body, at about an equal distance from each other. 

 The two setae of each couple are placed quite close to each other 

 and have the ordinary shape. However in the vinicity of each pro- 

 state there is a fascicle of two penial setae, which are very long 

 and slender; they have the tip slightly curved und their distal half 

 has an undulated appearance (PI. II. fig. 3). By high power they appear 

 to be furnished with blund, bud-shaped processes, giving them the 

 appearance of a thorn-stick. The two penial setae have not the same 

 length ; the smallest of them , measuring only a fourth of the length of 

 the largest one, may be considered as a reserve-bristle. 



The longitudinal muscular layer of the body- wall shows the bipinnate 

 arrangement of the fibres, frequently met with in earthworms; this 



1) I permit myself to dedicate this species to Mrs. A. Weber — van Bosse , who valiantly 

 accompanied her husband on his wearisome journey through the Malay Archipelago. 



