natural, history

13. EARTHWORMSBYG. E. GATESThis article presents the results of a study of the first earthworms that have been collectedfor scientific purposes on Rennell Island. The material comprises about 80specimens from the Danish Rennell Expedition 1951 and about 15 from the BritishExpedition 1953. All of the worms obtained are referable to two genera both ofwhich. if STEPHENSON'S classification (1930) is followed, belong to one family.In his Introduction WOLFF (1955) has given details about conditions on Rennellas well as a map of the collecting localities (p. 12).Types of new species are in the Copenhagen Zoological Museum.The author is indebted to Dr. TORBEN WOLFF and Dr. GRACE E. PICKFORD for theopportunity of examining this material.FAMILY MEGASCOLECIDAEGENUS PHERETIMA KINBERG 1867Pberetima esafatae (Beddard) 1899Pheretima esajatal! Gates, 1937, Bull. Mus. CompoZool. HarJard, 80: 318-320.St.: L. 351, Lavanggu, coconut grove, 13. Oct. 1951. - I juvenile, 3 aclitellate and 3clitellate specimens (Dan. Exp.).St.: L. 364, Te-A vamanggu, cultivated area, 16.-18. Oct. 1951. - 3 c1itellate specimens(Dan. Exp.).St.: L. 375, Lavanggu, young forest, in rotten wood, 21. Oct. 1951. - I clitellatespecimen (Dan. Exp.).Hutuna, Lake Te-Nggano, Nov. 1953. - I clitellate specimen. (Clitellum probably notfully developed as 8 setae are still visible on ventrum of xvi (Brit. Exp.).External characteristics. Pigmentation red.Setae: 61/viii, usually lacking in a wide ventral gap on xviii, recognizable bothdorsally and ventrally on xvi and xiv of one clitellate specimen, xviiijO-2, xix/0-9,viii/I-4 as shown below. The first dorsal pore is on 11/12 (I), 12/13 (II, on four ofwhich there is a more or less pore-like marking on 11/12).Spermathecal pores are not minute but are very small, and appear to be longitudinally,transversely or even diagonally slit-shaped, occasionally slightly depressed. Each. pore"is bordered by areas of grey translucence which can be seen, in favorable condi-