309 



RHYNCHELMIS: A RARE AaUATIC WORM, 



BY 



W. A. BAILY. 



(Read November 6th, 1900). 



Plate XVII. 



In March, 1896, my attention was drawn to a worm in 

 my water jug, which, upon examination, appeared to have 

 a glossy, tube-like proboscis. 



The water had been pumped up from the well which 

 suppHes my house, 129 Dyer Street, Cirencester. 



When the worm was submitted to Dr Benham, he 



wrote : — 



" Department of Comparative Anatomy, 

 The Museum, Oxford, 



March 11, 1896. 

 It is a most interesting worm, yclept Rhynchelniis. Nearly ten 

 years ago Harker sent me a Hving specimen from your plane, obtained 

 from a well, and that was the first time that it had been obsc a in 

 Britain, at any rate there is no record of it. I did not publish anything 

 at the time, as Harker hoped to find more specimens, and proposed to 

 write something about its habits. However, it never came off. I 

 should be very glad to have another specimen or two. I cut sections 

 of the original (Harker's) example ; and I have preserved yours for 

 Museum purposes. But I should like another to study, as this specimen 

 is sexually mature, and there are one or two points that are worth 



clearing up, so urge your folk to bring them to you 



Wm. B. Benham." 



