134 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF [1899.. 



enchytneiis for M. solifiu/us is unnecessary, and the species is here 

 referred to Mesenchytrieus. 



The following account of the habits and environment of the 

 snow-worms is due to Mr. Bryant: 



" The snow-Avorms were first observed a few hundred yards from 

 our first camp, on the edge of the snow mantle of the glacier, 

 which at this time (June 17) extended to within a few miles of 

 the terminal face of the glacier. By the first of August this 

 snow mantle, which in places was six or seven feet in depth, had 

 entirely disapj^eared, exposing the hard, compact ice of the glacier. 

 The elevation of the first snow-camp referred to w^as 520 feet 

 above sea level. Here but few specimens of the worms were 

 noted. At our second camp on the snow (elevation 1,260 feet), 

 they were quite abundant in places, as also at our next camp (ele- 

 vation 1,580 feet), where their presence in large numbers irregularly 

 dispersed presented the appearance of blotches of coarse dust on 

 the snow. Our base- camp was on a small expanse of snow- 

 free ground on the south slope of a range of foothills abutting on 

 the main range at an altitude of 1,750 feet, A few worms were 

 observed on the adjacent snow of the main glacier, at a somewhat 

 lower elevation; but I do not recall seeing any representatives of 

 this species on any of our excursions in the upper suuw fields of 

 the region. 



" During the month of June and early part of July, while the 

 snow is comparatively dry, they appear about four o'clock in the 

 afternoon on the surface and move sluggishly about, their dark 

 color being quite conspicuous against the white background. They 

 remain on the surface during the night ; but when the sun appears 

 in the morning they again burrow into the snow. They were 

 widely distributed over the entire snow-field of the glacier, dimin- 

 ishing in numbers toward the edges. There was no uniformity in 

 their dispersion. We did most of our sledging at night, and 

 frequently jDassed stretches of snow several hundred yards in 

 extent Avithout noticing any specimens, and then would come to 

 irregularly defined areas which seemed to support colonies of them, 

 where the snow showed shadowy, dustlike patches caused by their 

 presence in considerable numbers. As showing their sensitiveness 

 to heat, I frequently observed their active wriggling as soon as a 

 piece of snow containing them was taken in the hand. Later in 



