1896.] Friend. — Irish Freshwater Worms* 127 



yet been properly described, though the worm has long been under 



observation. This species is, among the aquatics, pretty much what 

 Lumbricus icrrcstris formerly was among the earthworms. If a water-worm 

 was found it was formerly customary to call it Liimbriculus^ and there 

 was an end of the matter. Beddard gives but this one species, though I 

 am certain we have at least two if not three species already discovered in 

 Great Britain. I have no doubt about the Irish species belonging to 

 Beddard's form (Monograph, p. 214). I had the good fortune to see one 

 of the specimens throw off its tail, just as a crab or lobster will cast a 

 claw, when in danger or irritated, and the question of its regeneration 

 has been the subject of special study bj- more than one biologist. The 

 Lti))ibncnhts is one of the largest and most active of our aquatic worms, 

 being two or three inches long, and as large round as a piece of grocer's 

 twine or a large pin. It wriggles violently if captured, and may be fre- 

 quently met with in weedy ponds and lakes or wide ditches. It is quite 

 aquatic in habit, and has the setse in four pairs on each segment. The 

 most beautiful and striking feature is the blind contractile appendages 

 to the blood-vessels, which can be readily seen through the transparent 

 integument. Mr. Beddard (p. 209) gives a figure after Claparbde. The 

 pharynx occupies the second, third, and fourth segments, then follows 

 the oesophagus in the fifth and sixth segments, the intestine commencing 

 in the seventh. The intestine can at once be recognized by the presence 

 of vspecial (chloragogen) cells. The body usually appears of a greenish 

 brown hue, and there are as many as 200 segments. In England a second 

 species, nearly allied to this, but I believe as yet unnamed, is found under 

 the strong growths of moss and waterweed which choke the streamlets 

 flowing into our Cumberland lakes. I mention this in the hope that 

 some one living near the lakes of Ireland may be induced to examine 

 similar localities with a view to adding other species to the list. 



Llmnodrilus Udekemlanus, Clap. — I am in doubt about the actual 

 identity of this worm owing to the fact that Beddard's account is meagre, 

 and I am unable to consult the original memoirs of Claparede and 

 Vaillant. It may yet prove a new species, and I therefore give my ob- 

 servations without reference to Beddard's account. Unfortunately an 

 accident with my specimens resulted in their being destroyed before I 

 had completed my study or mounted a specimen for further reference. 

 The setae, five or six (even up to eight) in each bundle of the anterior 

 segments, are seated on papillae. About four setae in the posterior 

 bundles, bifid, the outer tooth being much the larger of the two. 

 Blood-vessel springing from segment 12, dilating in segment 9 (sometimes 

 going back to segment 10 when the worm is in motion). I observed here 

 and there a constriction of the large blood-vessel near the dilatations as 

 if for a valve Penial setae wanting. The trumpet-shaped chitinous 

 penis (or penis-sheath) not more than four times as long as broad 

 (resembling that of my new species, Limnodrilus IVordsworihiamis). Dark 

 chloragogen cells beginning immediately behind segment 5. Sper- 

 mathecae with short, uncoiled tubes, little, if any, longer than the 

 chamber. Should this eventually prove to be a new species I shall 

 supply figures when I submit the account to the Royal Irish Academy, 



