482 
SUMMARY OF CURRENT RESEARCHES RELATING TO 
matter into the cavity of the gut of Lumbricus. The obvious mobility 
of the cells in a condition of hunger recalls the statement that the 
flagella of the endoderm cells of Hydra are retracted during digestion. 
New Earthworms.* — Dr. W. B. Benham gives descriptions of three 
new species of Earthworms — Plutellus perrieri from M assart, Queen 
Charlotte’s Island, British Columbia, Microchseta papillata from Natal, 
and If. Belli from East London, Cape Colony. With regard to Plutellus 
the author modifies Perrier’s generic diagnosis, according to which the 
funnel of the nephridia does not perforate the septum, and the ovary is 
set in front of the testis. Very full accounts are given of the structure 
of the three worms, and some corrections are offered to previous descrip- 
tions of Microchseta . In conclusion Dr. Benham makes some criticisms 
on the genus Kynotus lately described by Michael sen from Madagascar ; 
he thinks it is not as aberrant as its author believes, and that it is a 
very close ally of Microchseta , the link between it and M. rappi being 
provided by the new species described in the present communication. 
Earthworms from Algeria and Tunisia. t— Mr. F. E. Beddard has 
a note on a small collection of earthworms made by Dr. J. Anderson. 
Allolobophora complanata Duges is known from the South of Europe, and 
Microscolex algeriensis is a new species. An account is also given of 
M. Poultoni sp. n. from Madeira. A table is given by which the now 
four known species of Microscolex may be distinguished from one 
another. 
Species of Perichseta.t — Mr. F. E. Beddard describes some species 
of the genus Perichseta (s.s.) from various localities ; these are 
P. sumatrana Horst, P. Dyeri (Hab. doubtful), P. sinensis (from Foo- 
chow), P. bermudensis (from Bermuda), P. taprobanse (from Ceylon), 
P. Morrisi (from Penang), P. barbadensis , P. hesperidum, and P. mauri- 
tiana (from Mauritius) — all new. 
The author points out that the principal external features which 
seem to be of importance, are : — 
(1) Whether the ventral setae are larger than the rest. 
(2) The number of setae upon the segment. 
(3) Whether the clitellum includes the whole of segments xiv.- 
xvi. 
(4) Whether the setae are present or absent from some or all of the 
clitellar segments ; and if present, whether they are modified. 
(5) The number and arrangement of the anterior and posterior 
genital papillae. 
(6) The position of the atrial pores upon the 18th segment. 
(7) Colour, size, and number of segments. 
The chief internal characters which show variations are the 
spermathecae and the atria ; the intestinal caeca are less useful. 
jB. Nemathelminthes. 
Development of Excretory Organ, Lateral Lines, and Coelom of 
Nematodes.§ — Dr. O. Hamann describes the lateral lines of Nematodes 
* Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., 1892, pp. 136-52 (2 pis.). 
f Tom. cit.,pp. 28-37 (2 figs.). % Tom. cit. pp. 153-72 (2 pis.). 
§ Centralbl. f. Bakteriol. u. Parasitenk., xi. (1892) pp. 501-3. 
