1869. | DR. W. BAIRD ON A NEW EARTH-WORM. 41 
(plate 18. fig. 162) he figures very distinctly a cincture after the 
thirteenth segment. I thought that perhaps a better distinctive 
character might consist in the form of the setee themselves. Tem- 
pleton describes them (in Megascolex) as about 100 in number, and 
as being in the form of small mamille, each surmounted by a minute 
bristle arched backwards. In Pericheta these bristles are bluntly 
lanceolate in form, slightly curved, and nearly equal in size at each 
extremity. Upon examining Megascolex ceruleus, of which we 
possess several specimens in the Collection of Annelids in the British 
Museum, I found that the setee or spines in it were neatly exactly 
the same in form, only much smaller; so that in my opinion, these 
characters fail to constitute a distinct genus. I have now, therefore, 
little hesitation in referring the species of Pericheta described by 
Schmarda to the genus Megascolex of Templeton. The chief differ- 
ence appears to me to consist of size, the species described by this 
latter author, M. ceruleus, being from 20 to 40 inches in length, 
and 1 or 14 inch in breadth, while the species of Pericheta de- 
scribed by Schmarda are only about six inches long. 
Very lately my attention has been called to a species of Earth-worm 
found in North Wales, which evidently belongs to the same group as 
the Pericheta of Schmarda. It is about 4 or 5 inches in length, 
3 lines in circumference, and is very lively in its movements—when 
touched by the hand, or laid upon it, twisting itself into a variety of 
violent contortions which render it very difficult to hold; or, as my 
correspondents correctly say, the motions are ‘‘ like those of an eel.”’ 
After the thirteenth ring there is a short cincture or girdle, which 
completely conceals from view the segments of the body underneath. 
Beyond this the worm consists of about ninety-one or ninety-two 
segments, making in all about 104 or 105 distinct rings. Near the 
‘extremities, both superior and inferior, the rings are very distinct ; 
the ridges which run round them are very prominent, and the sete 
are considerably, even positively, longer than those in Megascolex, 
notwithstanding the difference in size of the worms; they are of 
a linear lanceolate form, blunt at the apex and slightly bent, and are 
about 60 in number in each segment. Towards the middle of the 
body, these rings become nearly flat, and the sete are not so dis- 
tinctly seen, except with the lens. The back of the worm is of a brown 
colour, and the belly of a very pale yellow, agreeing in this respect 
with the Megascolex ceruleus. The mouth is also like that organ 
in Megascolex ; and the anus is terminal, round in shape and central 
in position. 
These worms lived for some time after being sent to me; but they 
appear to be very drittle, many of them breaking off a portion of 
of their body and then dying. 
I have named it Megascoler (Pericheta) diffringens, from this 
habit of breaking into pieces. 
In the beginning of last December, a few of those interesting Worms 
were sent by Mr. Johnstone, gardener at Plas Machynlleth, in Mont- 
gomeryshire, North Wales, to Mr. Draper, at Seaham Hall, near 
Sunderland. They were brought before the Tyneside Naturalists’ 
