768 



CONTRIBUTION TO A FURTHER KNOWLEDGE OF 

 AUSTRALASIAN OLIGOCH^ETA. 



Part L Descriptions of Two Species of a new Genus of 

 Phreodrilid^. 



By E. J. Goddard, B.A., B.Sc, Linnean Macleay Fellow of 

 the Society in Zoology. 



(Plates xxix.-xxxi.) 



The present paper deals with a new genus (including two species) 

 of freshwater Oligocheeta belonging to the family Phreodrilidce. 

 The specimens were found in association with the large crayfish 

 [Astacopsis serratus Shaw), and I am led to regard their occur- 

 rence in that particular way not as a mere accidental one, but 

 rather as one of constant association. These Oligochseta are 

 evidently not readily visible on the surface of the crayfish, and 

 very probably occur in association with the eggs of Temnocephala 

 which is found so abundantly on Astacopsis. The first evidence 

 of the presence of these minute Annulates in association with the 

 crayfish is usually afforded by the detection of small worms 

 among the eggs of Temnocephala when these structures have been 

 removed from the crayfish after the latter has been subjected to 

 the action of some killing- fluid. 



The specimens of one species were obtained in the Bulli 

 district, and were labelled " surface of Astacopsis." For these I 

 am much indebted to Professor Haswell. The second species I 

 obtained when on a collecting tour in the Gosford district. Some 

 large specimens of crayfish which I obtained, when placed in 

 10% formalin, yielded numerous individuals. 



This accentuates my opinion that the genus which I have 

 instituted is very probably to be found in constant association 



