606 
SUMMARY OF CURRENT RESEARCHES RELATING TO 
various limicoline genera. In the species described the more novel 
points are the small size of the prostomium, which does not extend on 
to the peristomial segment ; the setae are like those of earthworms ; 
there are dorsal pores ; the mesenteries between the several segments 
from v-ix are very much thickened ; the hearts are in segments vi-xiv, 
and are of large size ; the nephridia commence in segment v, and each 
has a saccular diverticulum. These and other points seem sufficient to 
render it necessary to regard Moniligaster as the type of a distinct family, 
equal to the Terricolae, Lumbriculidae, &c. 
Diachaeta Windlei.* — Mr. F. E. Beddard gives an account of the 
structure of this earthworm, which he compares with D. Thomasii and 
Urochseta. The setae are remarkable for being highly specialized, for 
while some are simple /-shaped, others are ornamented as in Urochaeta, 
and others are large and hooked. There are no epiderm glands 
between the setae. The anterior pair of nephridia form a “ mucous 
gland,” which is not branched, and opens on segment iv. The orifices 
of the nephridia are guarded by a sphincter. There are no posterior 
glands connected with the nephridia, and no calciferous glands ; as to 
the latter character, however, it is to be noted that part of the intestine 
(segment xii-xiv) has a similar structure. 
Phreoryctes.f — Mr. F. E. Beddard has a memoir on the anatomy, 
histology, and affinities of this form. Among the more important or 
novel points we may note the absence of genital or penial setae, and the 
position of the clitellum from the tenth to the thirteenth segments ; the 
epidermis of this region is formed by a single layer of glandular cells 
which differ from the cells of the general body surface by their glandular 
character and greater length ; the nephridia commence in the sexually 
mature worm in the sixteenth segment ; both series of genital ducts have 
the distal region lined with a chitinous membrane, which, perhaps, 
indicates their origin from an ectodermic invagination ; the developing 
spermatozoa are contained in sperm-sacs which occupy segments nine to 
fourteen ; the ova, which, when mature, are of very large size, undergo 
their development in egg-sacs. 
These and other characters justify the formation of a distinct family 
for this genus ; as to its systematic position it is observed that in the 
character of its generative organs it stands midway between earthworms 
and the majority of the forms that have been grouped together as Limi- 
colae ; so, too, in other points it has retained some of the characteristics 
of earthworms, while in other respects it has acquired the simpler 
structure of the aquatic Oligochaeta. It can neither be placed with the 
“Limicolae” nor the “ Terricolae,” and it makes such a division of the 
Oligochaeta impossible. 
Russian Earthworms.^ — Mr. N. Kulagin makes some additions to 
his previous observations on the anatomy of Russian earthworms. Club- 
shaped glands are alone found in the hypodermis of Lumbricus terrestris ; 
the apparent difference in the glands to which Uhde has drawn attention 
is due to whether the glands do or do not contain secretions. The cell- 
* Quart. Journ. Micr. Sci., xxxi. (1890) pp. 159-74 (1 pi.). 
f Trans. Roy. Soc. Ediub., xxxv. (1890) pp. 029-40 (1 pi.). 
% Zool. Anzeig., xiii. (1890) pp. 404-0. 
