248 OLIGOCHAETA 



Definition. Length up to 30 m. ; number of segments, ioo/ se/ae 2-6 in each bundle. 



Hab. Coasts of Europe. 

 Other characters those of genus. 



LIMNODRILUS, CLAPAREDE. 



Syn. Tubifex, BUDGE (in part.). 



Clitellio, VAILLANT (in part.). 

 Camptodrilus, EISEN. 

 Pododrilus, CzERNiAVSKY (in part.). 

 ? Acestus, LEIDY. 

 Lumbriculus, LEIDY (in part.). 



DEFINITION. Fresh-water Oligochaeta with uncinate setae only. Contractile hearts 

 in VIII or in VIII and IX. Perivisceral loops in posterior segments of body give 

 off branches which penetrate body-wall. Penis with chitinous lining ; prostates 

 present. 



The genus Limnodrilus was first clearly defined by CLAPAREDE (2). It had been 

 confused by BUDGE and D'UDEKEM with Tubifex. BUDGE, for example, figures the 

 chitinous penis of Limnodrilus in his paper dealing with Tubifex rivulorum, while 

 D'UDEKEM, writing on the structure of the same worm, remarks upon the occasional 

 absence of capillary setae ; this appears to show that he had before him a Limnodrilus, 

 for this is one of the principal differences between Limnodrilus and Tubifex 1 . I do not 

 agree with VAILLANT'S inclusion of Limnodrilus within the genus Clitellio ; the reasons 

 for thus dissenting have been stated on p. 247. On the other hand it seems probable 

 (as VEJDOVSKY and VAILLANT believe) that EISEN'S Camptodrilus is not really separable 

 from Limnodrilus. It is distinguished by EISKN (12, p. 898) only on the grounds 

 of the spiral arrangement of the fibres which surround the penis. ' In other respects,' 

 he observes, ' this genus resembles Limnodrilus.' The question whether this be of 

 sufficient importance as a generic mark need not be discussed, since VEJDOVSKY 

 (24, pp. 48, 143) finds the same spiral arrangement in Limnodrilus. 



As to Pododrilus of CZERNIAVSKY the defective description of this author renders it impossible 

 to be certain as to its identity (an VAILLANT thinks) with Limnodrilus. Pododrilus is not referred 

 to by VEJDOVSKY. CZERNIAVSKY'S definition is as follows : 



' Fasciculi setarum omnes uncinis furcatis (4-2 vel 5-1) forrnati tinteriores in duplicaturis pro- 

 minentibus ("von einer kleinen Hautfalte getragen ") positi Limicolae marinae.' 



' Apart from Tnl,:j',.< hlnnrhiinl! SIT p. 246 above). 



