ON THE OLIGOCHiETA from the BLUE LAKP], 

 MOUNT KOSCIUSKO. 



By W. B. Bexham, D.Sc, M.A., F.Z.S., Cuir. M.R.S. Tasm., 

 Professor of Bioloiiv, Universitv of Otayo. 



(Plates \\\i., xhii.). 



I have to tliaiik the Trustees of the Australian Museum foi" 

 givmg me tlie opportunity of studying this small collection of 

 Fresh-water Annelids, from the Blue Lake, Mt. Kosciusko, as 

 they are, so far as T am aware, tlie first aquatic 01igoch?etes from 

 the Australian continent that have heen identified. 



The tube received by me in March, 1906, contained a consider- 

 able number of small worms referable to three species : — 



Famihj Tubificid.e. 



1. Tiibifex davidis, np. nov. 



2. Bi-aiichiiwa pleurothpcd, sp. no\ . 



Family Piireodrilid.e. 



•3. PhreodrUukh'H nofabilix, gen. et sp. no^ . 



These were collected by Mr. Cliarles Hedley, under the 

 direction of Prof. T. W. E. David, in the Blue Lake, which is 

 situated at a height of GOOO feet above the sea, near the top of 

 Mt. Kosciusko. The depth from which they were obtained is 

 tliirty-five feet ; the bottom is of soft mud, and tlie teni[>erature 

 was 44" Fahr. 



The worms liad, apparently, been treated with osuric acid, 

 which, unhappily, is ill-suited for these animal.s ; for not only does 

 it render the body wall rather opaque, so that the internal organs 

 can only be studied with difficulty in entire specimens, even when 

 stained and mounted in Canada balsam, but it also appears to 

 render the chpetje brittle, for, in the smaller specimens, they are 

 bi'oken ofi" short at the level of the body wall. Hence the lalx)ur 

 of identification is increased by the use of this i-eagent. 



