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153 
THE EARTHWORMS OF HOLLAND. 
Rev. HILDERIC FRIEND, 
Swadlincote. 
WHILE we have a pretty acurate knowledge of the Annelid 
fauna of France, Germany, Switzerland, and many other parts 
of Europe; and are able thereby to compare the distribution 
of European species with those found in Great Britain we seem 
to have no available records in English of the worms found in 
Holland. To supply this defect, I have recently studied the 
species to be found at the Hague, and hope, in time, to extend 
my researches to other parts of the Netherlands. The follow- 
ing list is intended merely as a first contribution to a very 
important subject, and it may be pointed out that, with one 
exception, the species here enumerated are those which we 
find most commonly in our own country. So far, no fewer than 
twelve species, embraced under seven genera, have been 
discovered. No attempt has yet been made to tabulate the 
Enchytraeids or White-worms, and the Water-worms. 
Three species of Lumbricus occur pretty generally, ViZ., 
L. terrestris Linn, L. rubellus Hofim., and L. castaneus Savigny. 
We find also certain forms of Allolobophora, using the term in 
the newer and more restricted sense ; as A. longa Ude, a worm 
which has always been confused with the true Earthworm ; 
and both forms of A. caliginosa Savigny, viz., turgida Eisen and 
trapezoides Dugés. It is at present difficult to decide whether 
these are to be regarded as varieties, forms, sub-species, or 
species. Aporrectodea is represented by one species, Ai. 
chlorotica Sav. both type and varieties; the latter of which 
still need careful study. Two forms of Eisenia are found. 
The one is the well-known brandling, E. foetida Sav., while the 
other, E. vosea Sav., was long known as Allolobophora mucosa 
Eisen. Octolasion cyaneum Sav. completes the list of Adlolo- 
bophoras, so far identified. There remain two other species 
to mention. The first is Adlurus tetraedrus Sav., which is 
represented not only by the type, but also by a well-marked 
and beautiful variety (Juteus Friend), exactly corresponding 
with forms found by me in the Eden near Carlisle. The worm 
of greatest interest, however, is Helodrilus oculatus Hofim. 
This perplexing annelid was first described by Hoffmeister 
in 1845. It was then lost to sight for many years. Later 
Michaelsen placed his Allolobophora hermanni under the same 
heading. I have found the latter at Cambridge, and the true 
Helodrilus oculatus at Malvern, while Mr. Evans has found it 
in Scotland. At present I regard the two species as distinct, 
but the Hague form seems to countenance Michaelsen’s view. 
I hope shortly to obtain further material from different locali- 
ties with a view of the solution of the problem. I am greatly 
indebted to Dr. de Visser Smits of the Hague, for much valuable 
assistance in my pursuit, which is undertaken by the aid of a 
Government Grant for special research. 
ig11 April r. 
