HRiriSH ANNELIDS. I I 1 



I am making notes on these variations as opportunity permits, 

 because of their important bearing on many points of interest in this 

 connection. The body is cylindrical, tapering in front, and 

 flattened behind. No one seems ever to have called attention to 

 this fact in its relation to those worms which dwell in the soil but 

 come forth to feed. The flattened tail is peculiar to these species, 

 and is of immense importance as a means of securing attachment 

 to the burrow, and resisting the efforts of enemies to drag the 

 creature from its hole. An expert will be able almost instantly to 

 tell the habits of any given specimen submitted to him simply by 

 the shape of the tail. The disposition of the setae is another 

 matter with a similar bearing. 



The colour of the Long Worm is somewhat similar to that of the 

 earthworm when found in gardens or rich soil ; but I have found it 

 in some places almost white (var. lacfea), while in pastures it is a 

 dark sienna brown, almost amounting to black on the anterior 

 portion. The segments number 150 to 200 in a full grown speci- 

 men. The setae are disposed, as in Lumbricus, in four pairs, the 

 individuals of which are nearly close together. The under side of 

 segments 9, 10, 11, where the principal organs are situated, is tumid 

 and pale, while on the 15th segment the male pore is easily seen 

 situated on pale papillae. The prostomium cuts the first ring only 

 partially, but the grooves are very characteristic, as they closely 

 resemble two arrow heads >< placed opposite each other. The first 

 dorsal pore is found between segments 12 and 13. Ude was one of 

 the first to draw attention to this point, and it will be seen by our 

 diagnosis of the groups that there is almost always a direct relation- 

 ship between the various members of each group in this respect. 



The girdle of the Long Worm usually extends from the 28th to 

 the 35th segment, three of which (32, 33, 34) bear the tubercula 

 pubertatis. I have met with some puzzling exceptions, which may 

 eventually be made the basis of a new system of classification, but 

 at present they must be kept out of sight. 

 {To be continued.) 



