BRITISH ANNELIDS. 31 



these minute pests, that thousands and thousands of pounds per 

 annum are to be saved to the cultivator, and important branches 

 of industry can be conducted with profit. It is impossible for those 

 who would grow plants on a large scale, and for profit, to remain 

 indifferent to the diseases of plants. It is as necessary for the culti- 

 vator to be able to deal with the diseases to which his crops are 

 liable as for the grazier to be able to treat his cattle for the diseases 

 to which they are subject. The losses consequent upon ignorance 

 or indifference are liable to be as great in one case as in the other, 

 and it is as much to the interest of one as of the other to take 

 advantage of the assistance which science can render him, and 

 practically demonstrate that herein also Knowledge is Power. 



BRITISH ANNELIDS. 



WITH ESPECIAL REFERENCE TO THE EARTHWORMS OF ESSEX. 



By REV. HILDERIC FRIEND, F.L.S. 



(Continued front Vol. V., p. 241.) 



T HAVE been induced by a dual consideration to give the first 

 place in our systematic study of the indigenous earthworms of 

 Essex to the Square-tailed Worm {Allurus tetraedrus, Eisen). This 

 species, in the first instance, is the sole representative of the genus 

 in Britain, unless we raise the recently discovered varieties to specific 

 rank ; so that when we have mastered it there remains a clear field 

 for the study of the two important genera which constitute the bulk 

 of our terrestrial annelids — Lumbricus and A/io/obophora. In the 

 second place, the Square-tail ranks first in order of time among the 

 Essex worms of which I have any knowledge. In 1888 this species 

 was discovered by the Rev. O. Pickard-Cambridge, B.A., in Dorset, 

 and submitted to Dr. Benham, who identified it, and declared it to 

 be new to Britain. I might dispute the latter statement, but must 

 admit that this is the first reliable record. On December 5th, 1888, 

 Mr. Cambridge being in Essex, again sought for this worm, and 

 succeeded in finding it without difficulty. I have in my possession 

 these original worms, and have had from Mr. Cambridge a detailed 

 account of the discovery. I have also seen the correspondence 

 relating thereto, and on this account feel it to be only just and right 

 to place this species in the premier position. 



