WORMS, ETC. 509 



The genus Serjmla has been submitted to a more parti- 

 cular examination by Philippi (Archiv, 1844, Bd. i, p. 186, 

 or Froriep's n. Notiz. Nr. 731, 1845, p. 73). He has em- 

 ployed the nature of the operculum in the various Serpulse, 

 as a very good character for the formation of subgenera, 

 and has, in accordance with this, added to the already re- 

 cognised subgeuera Serpula, Vermilia, Lam., Cymospira, 

 Sav., Galeoluna, Lam., Spirorbis, Lam., Protula, His., the 

 following additional new ones, viz. : Placosteyus, Pomatoceros, 

 Eupomatus, and Psyymobranchus. The species have been 

 arranged by Phillippi in accordance with this classification 

 of the genera, and fifteen new species are added. 



CH.ETOPODES ABRANCHIATI. Very copious and valuable 

 researches, respecting the various species of Earth-worm, 

 have been published by Hoffmeister. (De vermibus quibusdam 

 ad genus Lumbricorum pertinentibus, Dissert. Berol. 1842, 

 and in these Archiv, 1843, Bd. i, p. 183.) He properly 

 objects to the previous zoological works on the genus Lum- 

 bricus, that the hitherto admitted specific distinctions have 

 been founded upon unessential and mutable characters, such 

 as the situation of the clitellum and the position of the 

 vulva, since these parts have no determinate position ; nor 

 is the number aud situation of the pores below the clitellum 

 constant. On the other hand, Hofimeister adduces the 

 form of the upper lip as an infallible and immutable cha- 

 racter, which is applicable also in young and asexual 

 individuals, in which both the clitellum and genital orifices 

 are wanting. The position of the clitellum and of the vulva, 

 the proportionate length of the body to its thickness, the 

 form of the separate segments, of the body, that of the tail, 

 and the colour of the integument are employed only as 

 subordinate specific characters. In accordance with this, 

 Hoffmeister institutes the five genera, Liimbricus, Rhynckel- 

 mis, Haplotaxis, Encliytrceus, and Scenuris ; in the distin- 

 guishing of these, however, reference is made to the pedicelli, 

 viz. : whether they are disposed in two or four series ; 

 whether they are placed singly, in pairs, in three to four, or 



