36 The Irish Naturalist. 



in Yorkshire. When preser^^ed in alcohol this specimen from 

 segments 14 to 16 was darker in colour than the rest of the 

 worm, which on dissection proved to be the result of a 

 mixture of quartz granules and vegetable matter intermixed 

 in the intestines, and showing through the semitransparent 

 bod5\ I found an opening in the middle of segment 10 with a 

 pair of penial setae, which differ widelj^ from those which are 

 arranged in pairs on each segment of the ho^y. In other 

 particulars it differed considerably from the type, and though 

 it is difficult to specify any characters which entitle it to 

 rank at present as a distinct species, it is undoubtedly a 

 distinct form or variety. Kisen found specimens which he 

 named var. hdcics, but from his brief description this differed 

 from the present form. We do not yet know enough of the 

 habits, habitats, structure and distribution of this interesting 

 genus to determine the number of species which exist, as ever}^ 

 writer finds some particular in which the specimens examined 

 by him differ from the descriptions of others. Rosa's 

 " Revisione dei I/Umbricidi " (Torino, 1893) contains (pp.71 

 seq.) one of the latest summaries, but A. jflavus, Fr., is not 

 included. The following are the external characters of the 

 Mitchelstown Cave specimen, and to this account I shall be 

 glad to add a further diagnosis if further specimens can be 

 obtained for dissection and microscopic examination. 



Allurus flavus, Friend. 



Found at Mitchelstown Cave, July, 1894. Length in alcohol i incli, 

 total number of segments 80, yellow in colour. Girdle extending from 

 segment 22 to 26, with papillae on one side only of segments 28, 29. On the 

 under side of the girdle the clitellar band extends over segments 23, 24, 

 25 on either side. Perhaps to be regarded as only a well-marked variety 

 of ^. tdraedrus, Sav., the variation being due to some peculiarity" of soil 

 or habitat yet to be determined. 



