123 
A REVISED CHECK LIST OF BRITISH EARTHWORMS. 
Rev. HIL DERIC IC F RIEND, 
Swadlincote. 
So much progress has been made in the study of this subject 
since my Check List appeared in this Journal in January, 1893, 
that a revision and extension is eagerly demanded. The true 
Lumbrici remain the same, but in the old genus Adlolobophora 
so many additions have been made, and so much more know- 
ledge of internal anatomy has been acquired that several new 
genera have been established. We have also to record the 
discovery of the genus Helodrilus. 1 shall retain the old 
fractional system of marking the girdle segments and ¢ubercula 
pubertatis. Thus in the common earthworm the formula a _ 
means that the girdle extends from the 32nd to the 37th seg- 
ment, inclusive ; while the tubercula cover segments 33 to 36. 
When, instead of a band, there are individual pores Ha the 
tubercula, the fact is indicated by a colon (thus 31: 33), 
instead of by a hyphen. The head is called the prostomium. 
The peristomium, to which the head is attached in various 
ways, 1s counted as the first segment. It is without setae, and 
some writers therefore begin to count from the first setigerous 
segment. This will account for the difference which is some- 
times found to exist between the descriptions of different 
authors. 
I. GeENusS LumsBricus EISEN. 
Prostomium inserted into peristomium like a perfect mor- 
tise and tenon ; the processus dividing the first segment in two. 
Girdle of five or six segments, the innermost four carrying a 
band, known as the tubercula pubertatis, on each side. Setae 
eight on each segment in four couples, of which the individuals 
are near each other. Male pores on segment XV., with, or 
without papille. Colour dark-red with iridescence. Cylin- 
drical in shape, with flattened tail. Slimy, but with no turbid 
or coloured fluid. Internally the presence of a median seninal 
capsule, in segments X., XI., with three pairs of seminal ver- 
sicles in IX., XI., XII., and two pairs of spermathecae in IX., 
X., opening in the line of the dorsal setae between segments 
IX/X. and X/XI., are the generic characteristics. Five species 
found in Great Britain, one of which has not yet been discovered 
in England. 
1. L. terrestvris L.—Male pores on papille. Girdle formula 
3 ae First dorsal pore between VII/VIII. Easily distin- 
guished from the other species by observing the girdle and shape 
of head. 
2. L. rubellus Hoffmeister.—No papille with male pores 
on XV. Girdle a Smaller than the first. 
1g1r Mar rt. 
