likinSM ANNKf.II^S. 6l 



debted, moreover, to an unknown friend, through Mr. Oeorge Day, 

 F.R.M.S , for some specimens taken at Epping Forest. 

 The species are as follows :— 



1. Lumbricus tcrnstris^\A\\\\. Hah., Epping Forest ; East Ham ; 



Canning Town : Plaistow Marshes. 



2. Lunibricus rubelliis, Hoffm. Same localities. 



3. LiDiibricus purpiireus, Eisen. Same localities. 



I. Let us first examine the common earthworm. It is generally 

 thought that every one knows this species when he sees it ; but it is 

 a curious fact that almost up till the present day this worm has been 

 confused with half a dozen others, and scarcely any one has been 

 able to give us an absolutely reliable diagnosis. Now, thanks to the 

 labours of Rosa, Eisen, and others, we have arrived at a clear under- 

 standing respecting the true specific and generic characters of Euro- 

 pean worms, and can identify any species that may be alighted on 

 with certainty. 



The earthworm (Z. iem'stris) differs from the other two, both in 

 size, and in the position of the girdle. Unlike them, it also has pro- 

 tuberances on the sides of the fifteenth segment. In other respects, 

 the three species can scarcely be said to have any distinguishing 

 feature either externally or internally. These, however, are ample, 

 as we shall presently see. 



In point of size L. terrestris is one of our largest worms. It is con- 

 stantly associated with different species of Allolobophora, which it 

 closely resembles when only casually examined, though the differ- 

 ences are very marked to a trained investigator. It is usually from 

 four to six inches in length, with a thick round head (applying the 

 term vaguely to the front portion of the body), a well-marked girdle 

 when adult, and a flattened tail. In colour it is a warm or dark 

 brown, with a beautiful play of iridescent colour along the anterior 

 half of the body. The girdle and undersurface are a little lighter 

 than the tail, but there is a fair margin in all species of worms with 

 reference to the shade of colour they may assume. If the head is 

 examined carefully with a pocket lens it will be found that the small 

 rounded lip or prostomium in front is fitted into the first ring of the 

 body by a perfect "mortise and tenon " arrangement. This is one 

 of the distinguishing features of the genus, and ap[)lies to each of the 

 species. 



