VOL. IV.] California Earth- Worjus. 253 



color, marbled bluish. As far as known, California possesses two 

 outwardlj^ distinct forms, but which on account of their exact 

 similarity as regards their internal anatomy, I must refer as sub- 

 species to the same general species. 



Argilophilus marmoratus ornatus n, sp. The ventral 

 side of the genital somites furnished with two longitudinal rows 

 of ventral sensory papillae, one row on each side of the median 

 line. The number of papillae, which are strictly intersegmental, 

 varies from one to seven or more. 



Habitat. — North of vSan Francisco Bay as far up as Oregon. 

 Very common in the vicinity of Santa Rosa, etc, especially in 

 heavy moist, and rich clayey soil. The most common earth- 

 worm of the region. This species was first found by Miss A. 

 Eastwood of California Academ)' of Sciences. 



Argilophilus m armor atus papillifer n. sp. The ven- 

 tral region of the genital somites and posterior to the clitellum 

 furnished with a single row of median intersegmental papillae, 

 varying in number up to seven or eight or more. The papillae are 

 generally longer than in the preceding species. Although I have 

 examined hundreds of specimens I have never seen any transi- 

 tions between these forms. If the papillae in these subspecies 

 were of constant number I would not have hesitated to pronounce 

 them as equal in importance as species characteristics to the 

 tubercula pubertatis in the true Lumbricidse. The great vari- 

 ability in the number of the papillae, however, place them in a 

 somewhat different light, the only constancy of outward char- 

 acter being that in one form they are paired, in the other median. 

 In the paired form the}^ are situated one on each side of the 

 ventral ganglion, while the median ones are situated directly 

 under the ventral ganglion, one or one pair in each segment. 



Habitat. — This form is, so far, found only south of the 

 region inhabited by the former. I have specimens from Berkeley, 

 San Joaquin Valley, Monterey, San Francisco, Palo Alto, etc., 

 but only one single specimen from Santa Rosa, where the former 

 form is most abundant. The species prefers very heavy adobe 

 soil, and occurs only in the richest ground, never in poor soil. 

 The occurrence of Argilophilus is always a sign of the fertility of 



