Report on an Earthivorm, &c. By Dr. W. B. Benham. 163 
destruction of some parts, all that was necessary to ascertain its 
structure ; so that, after making a careful drawing and making all 
necessary superficial examination, I cut off the first twenty segments 
of the worm, and after staining this anterior portion, and imbedding 
it in the usual way, I cut it into a number of consecutive sections by 
means of a “ ribbon microtome.” 
I made the sections, as nearly as I could, in planes parallel with 
the median plane of the animal, and they are all arranged in order 
on the accompanying slides. Unfortunately many of these sections 
are a good deal torn, and organs therefore displaced ; this was due to 
the dirt and grit in the alimentary canal — a fruitful cause of the im- 
perfection of sections, which is familiar to those who have cut longi- 
tudinal sections through earthworms. But a sufficient number of 
sections are perfect enough for my purpose of identifying the genus 
to which the worm belongs. 
In addition to this series of sagittal sections, I cut a small 
portion of the next following region of the worm into a number of 
transverse sections. Further, a small portion of the body-wall is 
spread out, flattened, and mounted, in order to show the disposition 
of the setae and the nephridiopores. The remnant of the worm, 
together with these preparations and a drawing of its appearance 
and colour in spirit, was returned to the Natural History Museum. 
In the case of the longitudinal sections each slide is numbered with 
Boman numerals I. to XIII. The number is written at one corner, 
which is the right top corner when the slide is placed in the proper 
position. The series starts in each slide at this point, and passes to 
the left side. That is row a. Bow b in the same way starts at 
the right side and should be followed to the left. 
In my drawings I refer to the sections thus : — IV. a 6 indicates 
the sixth section from the right side along row a, on the fourth slide 
of the series. These slides then can be referred to in order to 
confirm or contradict my statements. 
Description of Eminia equatorialis gen. et sp. nov. 
The worm, as will be seen from the following description, is 
the type of a new genus, to which I give the name Eminia. 
Its specific name refers to the region of Africa in which it was 
collected. The worm is immature, there being no trace of a clitellum 
or any other external sexual character. 
In colour (in spirit) it is brownish, tending to green in the 
middle and posterior parts of the body, owing to the partial trans- 
parency of the body-wall, and the consequent visibility of intestinal 
contents. This colouring is shown in the sketch deposited in the 
British Museum. 
The length of the worm is about 2 in. ; see fig. 1 which is of the 
natural size, and represents it coiled as it was in spirit. The 
m 2 
