172 HRiriSH ANNELIDS. 



peculiarity about this worm which renders it very easy of identifica- 

 tion. When placed on its back it will be seen that the under surface 

 of the girdle forms an oval, or tends to a circular shape. Eisen first 

 observed and figured this very accurately, in his account of the 

 worms of Scandinavia. 



Mr. Allen has sent me specimens from Plaistow, and Mr. Day 

 from one or two localities around Epping Forest. 



3. Allolobophora turgida, Eisen. The Turgid Worm has 

 been a crux for the student of earthworms, but thanks to the industry 

 of a few patient workers, who prefer accuracy to fame, we have at 

 last been able to see it satisfactorily differentiated from all the other 

 species with which it was formerly confused, and can give it a definite 

 character. It is larger than the last and of a duller hue, being 

 usually of a greyish colour behind, with an orange girdle and flesh- 

 coloured head. The girdle extends over segments 28 to 34, and if 

 a specimen which is passing into the adult stage is carefully exam- 

 ined, the puberty pores will be found to occupy two alternate 

 segments — 31, 33. In the (ireen Worm the same segments are 

 occupied, but there are three pairs, extending to the 35th, while there 

 is a marked difference in their shape and appearance. If a perfectly 

 adult Turgid Worm is examined the pores will be found so swollen 

 as to appear to cover the intervening segment, when it will be diffi- 

 cult for anyone but an adept to distinguish it from the next species. 

 While the dorsal pores of the two foregoing are between segments 

 4 and 5, and are easily identified, in the Turgid Worm they ])egin 

 between 10 and 11, and are found with difficulty. This is one 

 feature which marks off the members of the group, and it is accom- 

 panied by another. The Green and Mucous Worms deposit a solid 

 substance with their mucus ; this and the next do not. 



I have to record the Turgid Worm for Epping Forest, Purfleet, 

 Rainham, Plaistow, Barking, Woolwich, and elsewhere ; the consign- 

 ments in each case reaching me through Mr. Allen and Mr. Day. 



4. Allolobophora trapezoidea, Duges. Eisen did splendid 

 service by his careful diagnosis of worms twenty years ago, but it has 

 been left for Rosa in Italy, and myself in this country, to complete 

 the unraveUing of the tangled skein into which previous writers had 

 lirought the whole subject of earthworm diagnosis. In former years 

 several species were lumped together under the title of the Common 

 Worm {Lu7?ibrtcus comminiis, Hoffmeister). Now we have entirely 

 discarded this vague and misleading epithet, and given to each 



