The Earthworms of Irela7id. 239 



by anglers in England, under the name of the Cockspur or Gilt-tail, the 

 latter name l^eing derived from the colour of the anal extremity. When 

 a drop of methylated spirit is placed upon the living worm it exudes a 

 yellow fluid, and this may l)e readily observed flowing from the dorsal 

 pores, the first of which occurs, as Udehas correctly pointed out, between 

 segments 5 and 6. Spermathecte are found in the loth segment, which 

 open in intersegment 9/10 in the direction of the superior pair of setLc. 



Eisen gives full directions for distinguishing between this species and 

 the Branding [Allolobophora fcvtida, Sav.); but if examined in a living 

 condition, these instructions are absolutely unnecessary. Dr. Greene 

 informs me the Gilt-tail is called the Small Brambling [=Brandling] at 

 Ferns. Benham is in error' when he says A. subrubicunda is destitute of 

 spermatheCcE and tubercida pubertatis. 



Synonyms : Allolobophora subrubicunda, Eisen {op. ciL, p. 51). A. pntris, 

 Rosa, 1893. Luinbriciis puier, Hoffmeister, 1S45; Dendrobxna piitcr^ fErley, 

 " A Mag. Olig. Faunaja," 18S0, p. 586. CErley has rightly identified the 

 worm, but did not recognize that it was the same as Eisen's subrubicunda. 

 He, however, doubted the accuracy of assigning L. puter, Hoffm., to D. 

 boeckii, Eisen. To this species, and not to D. boeckii, Eisen, as Rosa 

 suggests, we must, I think, relegate the Enterion octaedriwi, Savigny, and 

 perhaps also A.fraissei, CErley. 



Distribution in Irei^and. — Loughlinstown, Co. Dublin (Dr. Scharff); 

 Leeson-park (do. ); Blackrock, Co. Dublin (Miss Kelsall) ; Woodenbridge, 

 Co. Wicklow (Dr. Scharff); Cashel, Co. Tipperary (Lieut. -Colonel R. E. 

 Kelsall); Ferns, Co. Wexford (Dr. Greene) ; Aghaderg, Co. Down (Rev. 

 H. W. Lett); Cork (Miss A. N. Abbott); Holywood, Co. Down (Miss C. M. 

 Patterson) ; Valencia, Co. Kerry (Miss Delap) ; Kilmartin, Co. Dublin 

 (Dr. Trumbull) ; Malahide (do) ; Carrablagh, Lough Swilly (Mr. Hart) ; 

 Glasnevin, Co. Dublin (Mr. Redding). 



4. A. (DendrolbdBna) arborca, Eisen. This diminutive worm was 

 first described by Eisen in 1873. It appears to have been as entirely 

 overlooked up till that date, as the last-named species was till eight years 

 ago ; and I have little doubt but that in future years, when the decaying 

 forest trees of other lands come to be explored, we shall find several 

 other species which up till the present time have passed altogether 

 unobserved. The description of Eisen is true of our native species. 

 Body cylindrical, prostomium large and pale, occupying about one-half 

 of the first segment. Male pores on segment 15, tumid and conspicuous. 

 Girdle for the most part composed of six segments, extending over 

 26-31. Tubercula pubertatis on the 14th and 15th segments behind the 

 male pore, i.e., on segments 29, 30. The anal segment somewhat exceeds 

 in length that which precedes it. The setse are everywhere in distant 

 pairs. Segment 50-60 (sometimes more in British specimens) ; length about 

 50 millimetres (not so great in my British specimens). First dorsal pore 

 between 5 and 6. Like Dendrobcejia boeckii (says Eisen), this species is 

 found in old stumps of trees, into which, however, it penetrates further 

 than the latter species. The specimens which I have examined were 

 found deep in the wood, while the two other species {A. ccltica and 

 A. eiseni) were found, as a rule, less deeply imbedded. Eisen examined 

 one specimen in which the tubercula pubertatis extended over segments 

 28, 31. At first sight the species resembles D. boeckii, remarks Eisen ; and 

 it is marvellous that he should found a genus for tree-haunting worms, 

 and exclude from it his own arborea. 



Synonym : Allolobophora arborea, Eisen, Om Skand. Lumb. 1873. Sub- 

 species of ^. piUris, Rosa, Rev. dei Lumb. 1893. 



Distribution in Irei^and.— Malahide, Co. Dublin (Dr. Trumbull) ; 

 Leeson-park, Dublin (Dr. Scharff). 



5. A. (Dendrobsena) eiseni, Levinsen. Up to the present time this 



1 "Attempt to Classify Earthworms," Q.J.M.S., xxxi., p. 260. 



