BRITISH EARTHWORMS 



391 



WITH CHAETAE PAIRED. 



There are of course other points by which the different species 

 can be distinguished. Colour in a few cases enables a species to 

 be named at once without any further aid. One of the most 

 striking of these cases is the Brandling, so common upon dung- 

 hills, and so dear to some anglers. This worm is ringed with 

 brownish purple upon a yellowish ground. The greenish A. 

 chlorotica is often found under stones, and curls itself round into 

 nearly a complete circle when disturbed. A. cyanea, of a bluish 

 grey colour, is one of the earthworms very commonly met with 

 in the early morning in London and the neighbourhood. More 

 generally, however, the colour is of a paler or darker red, verging 

 towards and attaining brown, or even blackish brown ; and is so 

 variable that nothing in the way of identification can be at- 

 tempted from the colour alone, even with the most elaborate 

 description. 



Lumbricus, as already mentioned, is distinguished from all 

 Allolobophora except A. eiseni, by the complete dovetailing of the 

 prostomium into the first segment. There are five species in this 

 country which may be thus distinguished by the position of the 

 tubercula pubertatis. The most familiar species is the common 

 L. 



33,34,35,36 

 34,35,36,37 

 35,36,37,38. 



L. rubellus Hoff. tubercula pubertatis are on 28, 29, 30, 31 

 L. castaneus Sav. ,, ,, ,, 29,30,31,32 



L. herculeus Sav. ,, ,, ,, 



L. papillosus Friend ,, ,, ,, 



L.festivusS&v. ,, ., 



