142 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST 



by small chitinous ridges and points. There is no ledge of skin 

 (cuticle) between this opening and the slit, but the surface of the 

 cuticle is broken by minute scattered tubercles which extend from 

 the sides of the cloaca backwards, and along the inner surfaces of 

 the branches of the fork. Other sets of tubercles are arranged 

 in two long rows flanking the cloaca towards the sides of the 

 body, and converging forwards so as almost to meet in the mid- 

 line. These two rows of tubercles form roughly two sides of an 

 equilateral triangle, on the base of which the cloaca lies (see 

 Fig. 7, rh). Some of the tubercles are considerably produced, so 

 that they form stumpy, hair-like processes. 



As regards the finer texture of the cuticle, a high magnification 

 reveals the presence of a basal pattern, consisting of exceedingly fine 

 cross-lines which resemble the stipple of a fine half-tone process 

 block. Such pattern is common to many species of Hairworms, 

 but superimposed upon this in the species under consideration is 

 a second and characteristic pattern. The surface is raised into 

 small, low, dome-shaped mounds all similar in kind, though varying 

 somewhat in size and shape (Figs. 3 and 4). Their diameter averages 

 about 20 /v., and in adult specimens they are distinctly polygonal, 

 with usually five or six sides, although in young examples they 

 assume a more circular or oval shape. The raised domes are 

 separated from each other by channels of cuticle with a brighter 

 appearance (refringent). These vary considerably in width, but are 

 in all cases studded with minute refringent tubercles set irregularly 

 in one or two rows. This surface pattern is generally described 

 as areolar formation, made up of "areoles" or "compartments'' 

 {fe/de?-), separated by channels or "sulci,'' in which the very 

 characteristic " inter-areolar tubercles " are placed. 



{To be continued.) 



NOTES. 



Lesser Shrew in Haddingtonshire — The absence of any 

 record of the Lesser Shrew {Sorex viimitus) from East Lothian has 

 recently had my attention, and with the object of supplying the 

 want an appeal for shrews was made to several friends in the 

 county. As a result I received from Mr James Curr, Ninewar 

 near East Linton, a Lesser Shrew which was caught there by a cat 

 on 25th April this year. Measured in the flesh, its length was; 

 head and body 56 mm. (2} in.), and tail 36 mm.— William Evans, 

 Edinburgh. 



