270 Transactions of the Society. 



by Michaelsen as British. Southern (1909) makes 5 species for 

 England and Ireland, himself describing 2 new species which are 

 both well defined and fairly distributed in these islands. 



1. Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri Clap. 



A brownish coloured or red worm, varying much in length, 

 from 20-25 mm., and numbering 90 segments and upwards. The 

 prostomium is short. Setse from 4-8 in anterior bundles, with 

 short teeth. Pharynx reaching to the third segment. Brain deeply 

 incised in front, and slightly concave behind. Penis-sheath slightly 

 bent, about 11-12 times as long as broad. Nephridia of anterior 

 segments with glandular cells. [N.B. Yejdovsky (System und 

 Morph., p. 47) gives the penis-sheath as 6-7 times longer than 

 broad. He is followed by Beddard. Michaelsen gives " about 11 

 times."] 



The foregoing definition may be extended from notes made 

 during many years, but especially from observations on specimens 

 taken in the Thames during the past year. Here is a typical 

 entry : — Kew, August 2», 1911. Adult. ' Setae 5-8 in front, 3 be- 

 hind. No setae on girdle segment. Head pointed, blood intense 

 red. Largest heart in the 9th segment. Penis-sheath 12 x 1, 

 slightly bent. Chloragogen cells begin in segment 5, circular when 

 forced out. Girdle includes part of adjoining segment. Sperma- 

 thecae in 10 vary in appearance with age and position, cellular at 

 the distal end. 



To sho^v how variable the individuals are I Gfive other records. 

 Tower Bridge, London. Collected by Mr. Todd. Head small and 

 short, about the same length as the first segment (or peristomium). 

 Setse very variable in number, 3-7 in front of body, 3-4 in middle, 

 slender; teeth small, of about equal length. Largest heart in 8, 

 smaller in 9 ; penis-sheath fully developed but rather short. Setae 

 wanting ventrally near male aperture, but present dorsally. Sper- 

 mathecfe large, with slit-like apertures, but no spermatophores 

 visible in any position, though quite mature. Another specimen 

 from the same locality showed length 25-30 mm., with 160 seg- 

 ments ; seta3 like the last, but penis-sheath longer, or about 11x1. 

 Thus the length, number of segments and setae, and length of penis- 

 sheath are very variable. 



In a ditch at Newark I found on October 13 a worm which 

 recalls Eisen's L. steigericaldi, which Michaelsen places here. My 

 notes are as follows : — Setae almost always 6 in front bundles, 

 upper tooth smallest, nearly close pressed to the lower. Setaj be- 

 hind the girdle decreasing in number to 4, 3, and 2 per set, stronger, 

 and with teeth wider apart. Lower tooth stouter than the upper. 

 Penis-sheath bent, 4-6 times as long as broad. Chloragogen cells 

 begin in the 5th segment. 



