[ 147 ] 



Some ifurtber IReaearcbce on ZixUfc^. 



By a. Hammond, F.L.S. 



Plate 1 6. 



IN the following pages I purpose to correct some statements 

 made in my former papers on this interesting anneUd,* and to 



add some new facts, the result of more extended observations 

 on the economy of these worms. I may state that in order to 

 obtain the Tubifex for observation I adopt the following plan, viz., 

 I take a small garden-trowel, a wide-mouthed bottle, and a shallow 

 hand-net, composed of a piece of wire bent into a hoop, about six 

 inches in diameter, and covered with a piece of net, such 

 as is used for ladies' caps, and made in such a manner as to 

 show but little slack when filled with a small quantity of the fine 

 mud in which the worm lives. The mud containing them is 

 taken up with the trowel and placed in the net ; when the latter is 

 agitated on the surface of the water, the mud will be washed away 

 through the meshes of the net, leaving nearly all the worms it 

 contained, together with probably sticks, leaves, and other debris, 

 on the upper surface. After having got rid of as much of the mud 

 as is possible, the net is turned upside-down over the bottle, which 

 should previously have been partially filled with water, and the con- 

 tents washed into it ; the process being repeated until a sufficient 

 number have been obtained. The chief object at this time to be 

 aimed at is to get rid of the mud ; small sticks and stones will 

 not matter. On reaching home, our captives should be turned out 

 into a plate or shallow dish, and covered with about half an inch 

 of clean water, where they will live for two or three weeks, or 

 perhaps longer ; giving ample opportunities for watching them. 

 If the water should become thick or muddy, pour it gently off 

 over the edge of the plate (the worms will not follow) ; and fill 

 up again with fresh water. 



On reviewing my first paper, which appeared in Vol. I. of this 

 Journal, I may state that I believe the tubes there spoken of as 

 having been found on the surface of the mud, were undoubtedly 



* See Vol. I., p. 14, and Vol. II., p. 165 of this Journal. 



