171 



THE ANNELID FAUNA OF WORCESTERSHIRE. 



Rev. HILDERIC FRIEND, 

 Great Malvern. 



In order that we may supply a satisfactory list of the species of 

 Earthworms at present known for this cotmty, outside the two 

 genera Lumbnciis and Allurus already described,* it will be 

 necessary to devote a little further attention to the question of 

 classification. 



In 1874 Eisen split u]) the old genus Lunihriciis. and gave to 

 those species which differed in the shape of the head the generic 

 .name Allolohophora. He also divided this genus into two, 

 and gave the name Dendrobaena to a group which was fond of 

 haunting decaying timber. His distinctions were based 

 entirely on external characters, and these were not at all of the 

 first importance, but they served to draw attention to the fact 

 that real differences existed. His diagnoses are as follows : — 



1. LuMBRicus. — Tubercula ventralia in segmento 14. Setae 

 dibique bniae approximatae. Lobus cephaliciis postice segmentiim 

 •buccale in duas partes dividens. 



2. Allolobophora — Tubercula ventralia in segmento 14. 

 Setae uhique binae approximatae. Lobus cephalicus postice 

 segmentum buccale non dividens. 



3. Dendrobaena — Tubercula ventralia in segmento 14. 

 Setae ubique aequo intervallo distantes exceptis duabus sum mis 

 quarum intervallum aliquanto majus est. Lobus cephalicus tres 

 partes segmenti buccalia occupans. 



4. Allurus — Tubercula ventralia in segmento 12. 



It should be observed that most modern authorities now 

 reckon the peristomium as the first segment, and so regard the 

 male pore as occupying the 15th segment in Lumbricus, Allolo- 

 bophora and Dendrobaena, and the 13th in Allurus. 



It was thought that the differences between Allolobophora 

 and Dendrobaena were insufficient for generic purposes, and for 

 some years the latter term was discarded. Kulagin and myself, 

 however, revived the term owing to the fuller discoveries 

 which followed upon the study of the internal anatomy. 



Next to Eisen, we owe more to Dr. Rosa of Turin, than to 

 any other, for the pioneer work in this direction which the last 

 century witnessed. He published in 1893 a memorable volume, 



* ' Nat.,' December 1st, 1909, pp. 425-9. 

 igio Apl. I. 



