104 SCIENCE PROGRESS 



albidus Henle. Later still one finds A. chlorotica, A. caliginosa, 

 E. rosea and other forms. Ditches are frequented by A Hums 

 tetrcedrus, A. chlorotica, D .subrubicunda , D . merciensis and O.gracile. 

 And here it may be remarked that the other species of Octolasium 

 found in England rarely occur in such situations, but prefer 

 gardens and ploughed fields. Another difference will be indi- 

 cated hereafter. 



In many parts of the country it is the custom for the roadmen 

 to place their sweepings and scrapings in heaps either by the 

 roadside or in a field or waste plot. For a time no signs of life 

 will be found here ; then various Fridericias and other Enchy- 

 traeids begin to abound, and with these one will nearly always 

 find such earthworms as B. eiscni, B. constrictus, L. castaneus, 

 E. rosea, and D. mammalis. If a fork is inserted in the soil of 

 pastures and worked to and fro, L. castaneus, L. rubellus, and 

 L. festivus may readily be obtained. In some places the same 

 means will be successful in bringing out A. tonga, A. caliginosa, 

 E. rosea, and one or two others. It thus appears that a certain 

 number of species have well-defined habitats and definite habits, 

 such forms as Allurus never being taken save where moisture 

 is found, and the Octolasiums being found either in ditches 

 (O. gracile) or in gardens and fields. Nearly all our native 

 species love moisture, but they frequently perish in great 

 numbers in times of continued flood. 



Slime and Mucus. — One has not to study the Lumbricidae long 

 before becoming aware of great differences in relation to the 

 matter which is given off under irritation. All our earthworms 

 are provided with dorsal pores, and from these we frequently 

 find an exudation of one kind or another. In the case of the 

 different species of Lumbricus there is a watery discharge quite 

 distinct from the slime which is one of their chief characteristics. 

 This fluid is best seen when the worms are partially dried. They 

 seem then to pour it out from the dorsal region with a view to 

 moistening their surroundings and thus making progress possible. 

 It must be observed that the native Lumbrici (of which we have 

 four species in England, and a fifth in Ireland) never give off 

 a coloured or foetid liquid. In this respect Allurus, B. eiseni, 

 A. longa and one or two other Allolobophoras are in agreement 

 with the Lumbrici. With reference to the Allolobophoras 

 (including therein Allolobophora, Octolasium, Aporrectodea, 

 Dendrobaena and other genera) there is a great deal of diversity 



