IS96.] 69 



THE EARTHWORMS OF IRELAND. 



BY REV. HII^DKRIC FRIEND, F.E.S. 



During the past j^ear we have witnessed the publication of a 

 work on Oligochaeta which is of the first importance. Much 

 fragmentary matter previously existed in sundry magazines 

 and journals, but for a systematic treatment of the Order it 

 was necessary for the student to consult the Continental 

 memoirs of Rosa, Vejdovsk}^, or Vaillant. And even these 

 did not attempt to cover all the ground. Now, however, the 

 collector can consult Beddard's *' Monograph of the Order 

 Oeigochaeta "^ — a work which merits the warmest com- 

 mendation. 



It will naturally be asked — What does the latest work on the 

 subject say on the question of Irish Earthworms ? I will 

 endeavour to answer. Though I have received sundry speci- 

 mens from Ireland which belong to other genera than Lum- 

 briciis, Allolobophora, or A Hums, these have never been 

 described, because the specimens were either solitary or 

 immature, and science gains nothing by the rash publication 

 of imperfect matter. Consequently to the three genera above- 

 named alone we have to look for information. It is rather 

 curious to find (p. 723) that Lumhriais papillosus, Friend, is 

 still entirely unknown outside of Ireland. Mr. Beddard gives 

 it an undisputed place in his list. His definition, quoted from 

 my original account, is — 



"Length, 100 mm, ; diameter, 8 mm. ; number of segments, 130; colour, 

 ruddy brown ; clitellum, xxxiii.-xxxvii. ; tubercula pubertatis, xxxiv., 

 XXXV., xxxvi., xxxvii. ; first dorsal pore, ix.-x. Hab. — Ireland." 



The most interesting point about this species is the fact that 

 it exactly fills a gap in the graduated series based upon the 

 numbers of the segments which bear the tubercula pubertatis. 

 This is the only species of Liunbricics peculiar to Ireland. 



The number of species of ^//(9/^(^6>//z^r<2 recorded by Beddard 

 is fifty-two, as against seven oi Lumbricus. Among these one 

 only calls for special notice, namety, Allolobophora ve7ieta, Rosa, 

 p. 713. It will, perhaps, be well to transcribe the whole 

 account, which is prefaced by a list of synonyms. 



^ Oxford, Clarendon Press, 1895. 



