8 The Irish Naturalist. 



about five inches long, of a dark brown colour, iridescent, with a flattened 

 tail and cylindrical body. When adult the girdle is prominent, and 

 always extends from the 30th to the 37th segment. Under four girdle 

 segments we find a band (fig. 3) on either side, and on segment 15 a 

 pair of swollen protuberances, or papillse, carrying the male pores. The 

 setae are in four couples, the individuals of which are nearly close 

 together (fig. 4). 



Distribution in Irei^and. Lmnhriciis terresiris has reached me from 

 Valentia Island, Kerry (Miss M. J. Delap); Newcastle, Co. Down (Mr. 

 Praeger); Clondalkin and LeeSon-park, Dublin (Dr. Scharff); IvCtterkenuy, 

 Co. Donegal (Mr. H. C. Hart) ; Malahide, Co. Dubhn (Mr. J. Trumbull), 

 and Loughbrickland, Co. Down (Rev. H. W. Lett). 



Lumbricus rulbeHus, Hoffmeister — Red Worm, This worm has 

 been known for about half a century, and its distribution is very wide. 

 It is usually about three inches in length, and has all the characters 

 of the typical Liimln-iciis. It can be readily distinguished from the 

 foregoing, however, by the utter absence of papillse on the 15th and 

 other segments, and by the position of the girdle, which occupies seg- 

 ments 27 to 32. As usual in this genus, a band known as the puberty 

 band (or tubercula pubertatis) runs along the four innermost segments of 

 the girdle. The worm is very active, and abounds in most parts of the 

 British Isles, in all kinds of soil and every conceivable locality. 



Distribution in Irei^and. Liimbrims rubelhis has been sent from 

 half-a-dozen localities. Mr. Praeger has supplied it from Newcastle, and 

 Dr. Scharff from Leeson-park, Dublin; in the latter case they were all 

 immature. It has also reached me from Letterkenny (Mr. Hart) ; Mala- 

 hide (Mr. J. Trumbull) ; Glasnevin (Mr. J. R. Redding) ; Loughbrickland 

 (Rev. H. W. Lett), and Powerscourt, Co. Wicklow (Dr. Scharff). 



Lumbricus purpureas, Bisen — Purpi^E Worm. This is the 

 smallest of the worms in this genus. It averages about two inches in 

 length, and is readily identified as a genuine Liunbrims by its colour, 

 iridescence, 'mortise and tenon ' shaped head, close setae, and girdle of 

 six segments extending from the 28th to the 33rd. It is exceedingly 

 active, and can run backwards almost as rapidly as forwards. Savigny 

 undoubtedly knew the species longbefore Bisen described it, for he gives 

 its characters very accurately — so far as they were observed in those 

 early times — in connection with a species which he named Enterion cas- 

 taneum. 



Distribution in Irei^and. Lumbricus purpureas is widely distributed. 

 I have specimens from Valentia Island, Kerry, sent by Miss Delap; New- 

 castle (Mr. Praeger); Leeson-park and Clondalkin, Dublin, and Powers- 

 court (Dr. Scharff); Malahide (Mr. Trumbull), and Letterkenny (Mr, 

 Hart). 



Lumtoricus rubescens. Friend— Ruddy Worm. This interesting 

 worm has recently been sent me from Ireland. It conies midway between 

 the common earthworm and the red worm, is from three to four inches 

 in length, and has the girdle on segments 34 to 39, with the band on 

 the four innermost segments. Like the common earthworm it has 

 papillse on the under surface of the 15th segment, upon which the male 

 pores are placed. In colour and shape it exactly corresponds with the 

 other species of the genus. It was first described by me in 1891 from 

 specimens found in Yorkshire, and has since been discovered in many 

 parts of the United Kingdom, though no continental investigator 

 seems to have found it hitherto. It may have been known to Duges, 

 and early writers of this century, but the old diagnosis is too meagre 

 to satisfy the demands of modern science. 



. Distribution in IreI/AND. Five beautiful specimens of Lumbricus 

 rubcscens reached me in good form during the month of October from 

 J. R. Redding, Bsq., Glasnevin. One specimen at least carried on its 



