APPENDIX. 331 



Lumbricus fcetidus (page 61). 



This is really a beautiful species, and well distinguished by its 

 peculiar marking. In form and proportion it resembles the L. ter- 

 restris, but the largest specimen I have seen did not exceed 4 inches 

 in length, and it is usually not more than about half that size*. 

 The portion anterior to the clitellus is cylindrical, tapered to the 

 head, reddish-brown with yellow dissepiments ; the cephalic ring 

 pale and obtuse, and the next marked with two abbreviate impressed 

 lines confluent behind. There are twenty-six rings between the head 

 and the clitellus, and the genital pore is on the sixteenth. The cli- 

 tellus is composed of six rings. The posterior portion of the body 

 has about sixty-four rings, is double the length of the anterior, is 

 flattened, slightly tapered backwards, and not spathulate at the end. 

 It is regularly and prettily annulated with chestnut-brown and yellow 

 bands, which are nearly equal in diameter ; and it is marked besides 

 with golden-yellow oily dots, very irregularly distributed, and evi- 

 dently produced by the contents of the intestine. The ventral sur- 

 face is paler, and the bands do not encircle it. 



When immersed in spirits the worm discharges a clouded fluid 

 mixed with sulphur-yellow matter, and loses its irregular dots. At 

 the same time there is exh9,led a strong odour resembling that of 

 burnt turves, and diiferent from the nasty fishy smell exhaled from 

 the living worm. I found it difficult to get rid of this smell, — a fact 

 also mentioned by Dr. G. Douglas. "When fresh they exude, if 

 touched, a yellow pungent fluid of a very disagreeable and peculiar 

 odour, which stains the fingers, and leaves a smell which cannot 

 easily be got rid of for many hours." 



These worms are much prized by the angler for poking in the 

 smaller streams, as e. g. the Kale, the Jed, and the Beaumont ; nor 

 do the trout of the Tweed and Whiteadder resist the bait, albeit 

 they love it less than the Blackhead. But all anglers praise the 

 Brandling, and some have sung it in immortal verse : — 



" You must not every worm promiscuous use, 

 Judgment will tell the proper bait to choose : 

 The worm that drags a long immoderate size, 

 The trout abhors, and the rank morsel flies ; 

 And, if too small, the naked fraud 's in sight, 

 And fear forbids, while hunger does invite. 

 Those baits will best reward the fisher's pains, 

 Whose polish'd tails a shining yellow stains : 

 Cleanse them from filth, to give a tempting gloss. 

 Cherish the sullied reptile race with moss ; 

 Amid the verdant bed they twine, they toil. 

 And from their bodies wipe their native soil." 



Gay, Rural Sports, Canto i. 



" Sae ye'se put on your sawmon-roe, 



Whiles I a gowd-tail'd Brandlin' try ; 

 She 's comin down, a bonnie brown, 

 — We'se cheat them a', an' up the Wreigh." 



Coquet-Dale Fishing Songs, p. 109. 



* Dr. G. Douglas says that 21 inches is about the length of the largest ; but 

 one of the specimens he sent me was fully 3 inches. 



