The Earthivorms of Ireland. 189 



Britain, l)ut also abroad. The other lias hitherto been found only in a 

 limited area in Ireland ; it does not occur, so far as at present known, in 

 England; but is identical with a species, or sub-species, found on the 

 European Continent, 



Allolobophora foetida, vSavigny.— Thk Branding. This inter- 

 esting species has been known to the angler for ages past as a most 

 enticing bait for fish. So far as I have been able to glean, it was first 

 recorded under this name of Brandling by the renowned author of " The 

 Complete Angler." " For the trout, the Dew-worm, which" some^lso call 

 the Lob- worm, and the Brandling, are the chief." Thomas Moufet, whose 

 " Insectorum Theatrum " appeared in 1634, speaks of it as Duggs, but I 

 am unable to find any scientific term among the writings of Ivinnseus 

 which indicates that he had learned to distinguish it from the common 

 earthworm. Such writers of the present century on angling as Hofland, 

 Stoddart, and Younger, call it the Brandling, or Brambleworm. The 

 name has reference to the brand-marks, or alternate stripes of brown 

 and yellow colour, by which the worm is at once recognised. It was 

 first described as a distinct species in 1828 by Savigny, who named it 

 Enterion fxtidiun, the specific term being in allusion to the peculiar 

 characteristic, and by no means attractive odour, which proceeds from 

 the worm when handled. 



The Brandling is from two to six inches in length, and has an average 

 of about 100 segments. The girdle occupi&s the 26th to the 30th, the 

 male pore being on the 15th. On the under surface of the 2Sth, 29th 

 and 30th girdle-segments are the band or clitellar papillae {tuberatla pii- 

 bertatis). The worm is not only brindled or striped, but exudes a large 

 quantit)^ of yellow fluid, which stains the fingers, and leaves a most un- 

 pleasant odour behind for a long time. It is probable that this, like the 

 ink of the Sepia, is intended as a means of protection, and while the -worm 

 is greatly relished by certain fish, there can be no doubt but that its 

 habit of throwing off a disagreeable fluid makes it very repugnant to 

 some of its enemies. The 9th, loth, and nth segments are conspicuous 

 by reason of their lighter colour and greater diameter, owing in part to 

 the presence of important sexual organs in that region. The lip is tender 

 and pallid, extending backwards into the ist segment, or prostomium, to 

 about one-half its diameter. The first dorsal pore is between segments 

 4 and 5. 



This worm is peculiarly fond of old manure. It is still a problem how 

 it finds its [w^ay to the heaps. If manure be deposited in a given place, 

 where the w^orm appears to be unknown, a number of specimens will be 

 almost certain to occur within a year, and the next season, when de- 

 composition is complete, the worms may be counted by thousands. They 

 probably have some acute sense of smell, by means of which they detect 

 the whereabouts of a suitable nidus for their eggs and incubation. 



Distribution in Ireland. Ferns, Co. Wicklow (Dr. Greene); Black- 

 rock, Co. Dublin (Miss Kelsall); Cork (Miss A. N. Abbott); Holyw^ood, 

 Co. Dowm (Miss Clara M. Patterson); Valencia, Co. Kerry (Miss Delap); 

 Malahide, Co. Dublin (Dr. Trumbull); Portsalon, Co. Donegal (Mr. Hart); 

 Glasnevin, Co. Dublin (Mr. Redding); Leeson-park, Dublin (Dr. ScharfF}, 

 etc. 



Through the courtesy of Dr. Scharff", I received in the middle of June, 

 1892, a consignment of earthworms collected in his garden at Dublin, 

 which included, in addition to several species already well known to 

 occur in Great Britain, one which has been taken in no other part of the 

 United Kingdom. I submitted a detailed account of this interesting 

 animal to the Royal Irish Academy last November, and must refer the 

 reader to the Proceedings of that Institution (3rd ser., vol. ii.. No. 3, 

 pp. 402-410) for the statements then made. Since that time further 



