natural, history

Glandular material is pr~nt on the pan"etes on the anterior faces of the spermathecalducts.•l,{.emarks. Parasitic cysts are present in numbers in tne coelomic cavities of seg-.ment; behind xv.The Rennell Island specimen agrees with the Fiji worm that was assigned toupoluensis (Gates, 1937) in the num~r of setae between the male and spermathecalpore lines, presence of unpaired, median genital markings, marked muscularity ofsepta 10/11-12/13, presence of hearts in x-xi, unpaired and u-shaped testis sacs andinclusion in the sacs of xi of the vesicles of that segment.Pheretima rennellana n. sp.S1.: L. 364, Te-Avamanggu, cultivated area, 16.-18. Oct. 1951. - 2 clitellate specimens(Dan. Exp.).St.: L. 351, Lavanggu, coconut grove, 13. Oct. 1951. - II clitellate specimens (Dan.Exp.).St.: L. 357, Lavanggu, cultivated area, 15. Oct. 1951. - 2 clitellate specimens (Dan.Exp.).St.: L. 380, Niupani, Lake Te-Nggano, coconut grove, 23. Oct. 1951. - 2 c1itellatespecimens (Dan. Exp.).St.: L. 367, Te-Avamanggu, rain forest or cultivated area, 17. Oct. 1951. - I clitellatespecimen and 1 fragment (used as bait) (Dan. Exp.).St.: L. 352, Lavanggu, coconut grove, 13. Oct. 1951. - 1 partially clitellate specimen.­Dan. Exp.).Hutuna, Lake Te-Nggano, Nov. 1953. - 2 c1itellate specimens (Brit. Exp.).External characteristics.' Length, 55-100 mm. Diameter, 4-5 mm, Segments,84 + (l specimen), 90 (l), 98 (l), 104 (2), 108 (I), 110 (3), 112 (I), 116 (I), 117 (2).The last few segments, three to five, on some of these specimens are small, with few orno setae, metameric differentiation incomplete in spite of the sexual maturity indicatedby presence of a fully developed clitellum. Pigmentation red: quite obvious, inspite of alcoholic preservation, clear to the hind end, or less dense posteriorly, becomingmore dense again at the extreme anal portion, recognizable (one specimen)only in scattered spots in the preclitellar region (Ieacted by the alcohol ?).Prostomium epilobous, tongue open (7). Setae: 46/viii, 58/xii, xviii/9, 9, 4, 8, 6, 6,8,7, viii/II, 12, II, 10, 10, 12, 13, I I, and as shown below.Variation in number of setae between levels of spermathecal and male pores.viii II 10 II II 12 13 II 12 13 11 12xviii 6 9 6 8 10 10 8 to 7g 11 6xix 16 16 13 15 18 17 17 16 15 17 15g Gap (or gaps) in setal circle where setae may have fallen out recently, sites of follicle aperturespossibly ¥isibIe.11