62 1!RIT1SH ANNKI.inS. 



The girdle or clitcllum covers six segments, viz. : the 321KI to the 

 37th. If the undersurface of the worm is examined carefully along 

 the girdle, it will be found that a band stretches across segments t^t^^ 

 34) 35) 36) thus covering the four innermost segments. This band 

 forms what is known as the tuhercula pubertatis. In every genuine 

 Lumbricus we find the same arrangement, viz. : six girdle segments, 

 on four of which, omitting the two outermost, the tiibenula pubertatis 

 are situated. One or two species of AUolobophora present a similar 

 arrangement, but they differ in other respects from the true Lumbricus. 



If the 15th segment be examined laterally or sideways, a pouch 

 v/ill be seen. Here we have the male pore, made conspicuous by 

 being seated on papilUt. The other two species are without these 

 cushions or papillae ; but the new species to which I have referred 

 corresponds in this respect with the common earthworm. The seta; 

 or bristles are found in four pairs, and on a few of the segments we 

 find bristles of a different shape and size. These appear to be of 

 service to the animal wlien it has reached the stage of sexual activity. 



When we come to deal with the genus AUolobophora, we shall be 

 able to indicate the means by which to distinguish the earthworm 

 from those species which have hitherto been so fruitful a source of 

 trouble. I shall present the distinguishing characteristics of the three 

 species now under review in tabular form at the end of this paper, so 

 that a fuller discussion of L. terrestris will not now be necessary. I 

 retain the old Linnean term, because it is not only the oldest, but the 

 best. Most of the modern synonyms have been applied to the 

 worm through want of a perfect knowledge of the species, and it is 

 found that all the species with which the true earthworm was formerly 

 confused now fall into the new genus, thus leaving the true earthworm 

 to enjoy its proper title without dispute. 



2. The red worm (Z. rubelliis) is usually a good deal smaller than 

 the former. True, it varies greatly in size, and I have found a large 

 red worm which exceeded an average earthworm. This, however, is 

 the exception, and the red worm averages three to four inches in 

 length. It is frequently somewhat darker in colour than L. terrestris, 

 and the girdle, which is usually a warm brick red, is prominent and 

 closely fused in the adult. It is a very active worm, and may be 

 found abundantly in damp pastures, or under stones by running water. 

 If the turf of a meadow be shaken bri.skly with a garden fork or other 

 tool, the worms will dash out of the ground with great alacrity, and it 

 is pretty certain that among the specimens thus taken it will be pos- 



