1S98.] 195 



NEW IRISH ANNELIDS. 



BY REV. HILDERIC FRIEND. 



I have received from Dr. Trumbull, of Malaliide, an interest- 

 ing consignment of worms which contains a species that 

 proves to be not only new to Ireland, but new to science. I have 

 so far hesitated to describe it because I did not wish to intro- 

 duce any new names into our already congested lists if I could 

 in any way avoid it. Continued research, however, leads me 

 to the clear conviction that the worm I am about to describe 

 has never yet received a name, and in the interests of science 

 I am compelled to set forth its characteristics. It belongs to 

 the Enchytrseids, a large family of worms which are usually 

 white or pallid, though there are two genera at least with 

 coloured blood. The worm has been called uhnicola, because 

 it was found within the decaying wood of an elm tree. As the 

 main peculiarity relates to the shape of the spermathecoe, I 

 add a representation of one of these organs, and also of the 

 brain lobes and setae. 



Fridcrlcia ulmlcola, n.sp. 



A small white worm about f-iii. in length ; number of segments, 60. 

 vSette, four to six per bundle in front, the inner ones shortest ; four in 

 posterior portion of body, of almost equal length, setae hooked internally ; 

 the short hook being bent almost round to a right angle with the shaft. 

 A couple of setae on segment 8 widely separated. Brain of two lobes, 

 almost egg-shaped, attached to the body-walls by strong muscular pro- 

 cesses. The spermathecae in segment 5, with three distinct diverticula, 

 the blind extremities of a decided brown colour. Salivary glands 

 branched. Girdle composed of about 30 rows of cells Habitat : old, 

 decaying elm. Dr. Trumbull. Malahide, April ist. 1S96. 



A word may be added with regard to the affinities of the species. Up 

 till the present quite a score or more of Fridericias have been admitted 

 into the lists. Of these Beddard {Monograph of Oli^qocha'ta) describes 

 exactly a dozen species. One of these (^F. callosa, Eisen) has four setae 

 in a bundle ; and " spermathecae with three indistinct diverticula." The 

 anterior as well as the posterior margin of the brain is convex. Beddard 

 aptl}^ remarks that the spermatheCcC are intermediate in their character 

 between those without any diverticulum, and the more differentiated 

 species. F. hisctosa, F. Leydigii, and /". Pcrricri, each of which has sperma- 

 thecae with two diverticula, while in F. galba there are four. Thus our 

 new species fills the gap between Penieri and galba. So far as I am aware 

 neither of these has been hitherto recorded for Great Britain, but I have 



