186 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST 



WORMS. 



Oligochteta. 



ii. Many specimens of a comparatively small species of 

 Lumbricid Worm were found in various types of situation in 

 the workings. Some were found between pieces of damp wood on 

 the floor of one of the coal galleries, others amongst damp paper, 

 and still others actually amongst the coal dross itself. This varied 

 distribution, together with the fact that specimens of all ages 

 were captured, seems to indicate that however it may have 

 been introduced, the worm has now become naturalised and has a 

 permanent existence in the pit. 



The characters of the mature specimens are those of the 

 species Eiseniella tetrcedra or Allurus tetrcedrns, and the 

 presence of the male pores on segment 13 of every example 

 on which they could be distinguished, and of the clitellum on 

 segments 22 to 27, show that the pit worms belong to the typical 

 variety, Eiseniella tetrcedra var. typica (Saw). The subterranean 

 examples appear to differ little in colour from the surface forms. 

 The younger specimens are opaque white with the faintest 

 indication of colour towards the head, but the forepart of the 

 mature specimens is deeply pigmented with a brownish or 

 purplish brown tinge. 



Eiseniella tetrcedra is a common form in Midlothian, 1 where 

 it has been found amongst wet mud and stones, and exceptionally 

 under the bark of a rotting log. Such an exceptional habitat as 

 the latter may account for its presence in the pit, whither it 

 may have been conveyed in a pit-prop. Otherwise its occurrence 

 at so great a depth and at such a distance from the pit or 

 ventilating shafts is hard to account for. It is interesting to 

 note that a variety of the species (E. tetrcedra var. flavus) has 

 been found in the great Irish cavern of Mitchelstown. 2 



12. Helodrilus (subgenus Dendrobcend) rubidits (Sav.) var. 

 subrubicundus, Eisen. Three specimens of this species were 

 found and had apparently been living amongst the coal debris, 

 for when I received them alive they were still intertwined amongst 

 much black grit, and with them were associated castings also 

 of the same black nature. It is difficult to imagine what organic 



1 Evans, " The Oligochseta of the Forth Area," Proc. Roy. Physical Soc, 

 Edinburgh, vol. xviii., 1910, p. 118. 



2 Friend, "A new Form of Irish Earthworm," Irish Naturalist^ vol. iv., 1895, 

 P- 35- 



