SivnTH. — \otes on New Zealand Earth-worms. 137 



burrow than any otBer, and is more consumed by birds. It 

 is about 5 to 1 more numerous than any other species. In 

 the summer, during damp mornings, it may be seen moving 

 about on the surface of lawns or pastures, moving its head to 

 and fro, searching for food among the short grass. It has the 

 habit of lying or working close beneath the surface of the mould ; 

 this occurs in fine weather after heavy rains, it then falls an 

 easy prey to the weka, which roots them out with its strong bill, 

 and consumes vast numbers. Hundreds can sometimes be seen 

 dead in ditches, or in paddocks where water lodges on the land, 

 after storms of rain. 



Endrilus (?) campestris, Hutton. 



Lumhricus campestris, Hutton, "Trans. N.Z. Inst.," vol. ix., p. 352. 



Dygaster (?) campestris, Hutton, "N.Z. Journ. of Science," vol. i., p. 586. 



This species is found plentifully in gardens ; more so 

 in old ones cultivated some years, than in gardens recently 

 made. A very variable species : Professor Hutton gives 

 its colour as " reddish or olivaceous-greeu." In good garden 

 soil it is sometimes almost black, with the clitellum " reddish - 

 brown" and very distinct ; I have collected specimens on 

 poor soil clear red. If held before the light of a lamp at 

 night, it is almost transparent. It is a very sensitive and active 

 form ; it prefers medium dry to wet land ; in gardens in summer 

 it collects into strawberry-beds or under the shade of trees in 

 the orchard : it appears to have a strong liking for both cos or 

 cabbage lettuce, as I find it often between the inner leaves, 

 nibbling at the tender edges. It delights to live in the rot-heap 

 of kitchen gardens, where the refuse of all vegetables is thrown 

 to form manure ; it climbs through the heap in all directions, 

 subsisting on the decaying matter. Common in some districts 

 in the open land. 



Megalosolex sylvestris, Hutton, "Trans. N.Z. Inst." vol. ix., p. 



351. 



This species is plentiful in some places in Peel Forest. It 

 lives in the rotten centres of prostrate trunks, or in the bark. 

 It appears to prefer the dampest parts of the forest. It occurs 

 in the fine mould which often accumulates around the bottom 

 of the stems of tree-ferns. Colour, "dark red-brown." The 

 young is generally lighter in colour. If placed on level ground, 

 it has a curious habit of wriggling or twisting itself violently 

 about. 



The actions of earth-worms on the Canterbury Plains in 

 former times is of much interest, as a little reflection will show 

 that the accumulation of the mantle of mould now covering 

 them must have proceeded at an exceedingly slow rate. The 



