Descriptions of Earthworms

Last year the Leyden Museum received from Liberia some large Benhamia-specimens, agreeing in size with Benhamia Büttikoferi 1) Büttikoferi ¹) from the same country; however after a careful examination they turned out to belong to a new species. The largest specimen measures 350 mm. in length; its average diameter is about 10 mm., and it tapers only slightly within a few segments of the posterior end. There are about 250 segments, each divided by a ridge into two aunuli; the setae are situated upon this ridge. The coloration of the worm is of a dark violet-brown, but the clitellum and the ventral side of the segments in front of it have a yellowish hue.