7 2 The Irish Naturalist. [ March, 



A. profuga, Rosa. — Not even entered as British by Beddard. I have 

 recorded it for several English counties, and for North Wales. It is 

 abundant in my garden in Cumberland, and I had specimens from 

 Malahide in 1893, as well as written descriptions. I believe the Irish 

 form differs from the continental in some particulars, but there is no 

 doubt about the worm being Irish and English. 

 A. veneta, Rosa. — Dublin and Louth. Not entered as British by 



Beddard, though he records my paper in Proc. R.I.A. 

 A. rosea (Savigny). — P'ormerly entered as A. mucosa. Tipperary and 



Malahide. 

 A. GeoriTiiy Mich. — Co. Clare.^ (Not recorded as British by Beddard). 

 Lumbricus rubellus, Hoffmeister. — Cork, Kerry, Tipperary. 

 L. castaneus (Savigny). — Same as L. pwfttreus. Cork, Kerry, Antrim, 



Tipperary. 

 L. papillosus, Friend. — Unknown at present out of Ireland. Received 

 first from co. Dublin. Later from Cork with spermatophores, Kerry 

 and Tipperary. ^ 

 L. herculeus (Savigny). — Takes the place of L. terrestris. Received 

 from Cork, Tipperary, and Kerry. 

 Ireland, therefore, at present possesses seventeen well de- 

 fined species of Earthworm, and I am convinced that at least 

 two or three other species could be found if those parts of the 

 country from which specimens have never yet been received 

 were carefully worked. 



I have received specimens from the Mitchelstown Cave, but 

 while it was easy to identify Alluriis, the others were too small 

 and immature for determination, though there did not seem 

 to be any ground for supposing them to represent new species. 

 From time to time there have reached me, among the many 

 interesting consignments which I have received from a large 

 band of willing co-workers, a number of specimens not usually 

 classed as Earthworms, but still belonging to the great oligochaet 

 order. The publication of Mr. Beddard's monograph having 

 necessitated the searching up of old notes, records, and speci- 

 mens, I have fottnd some facts which have never yet been 

 published relating to these lesser species of Worms. It is my 

 wish and purpose, therefore, to work out this material, and I 

 shall 'be grateful if collectors will supply me with specimens 

 as before. They are to be found in the ooze of rivers, ponds, 

 lakes, and ditches, in wells, reservoirs, and tanks, among 

 decaying matter and debris, and generally distributed where 

 there is moisture enough to enable them to live. They vary 



'^ Irish Nat., vol, iii., 1894, p. 39. 



