ZooL— Vol. II.] ElSEN—OLtGOCll^TA. 2^>J 



APPENDIX. 



Methods of Collecting. 



It is often inconvenient to dig for worms, the holes and casts of which can 

 be seen in abundance over the top of the ground. In such instances the 

 author has had recourse to one of two methods, either of which will cause the 

 worms to rapidly seek the surface of the soil. The first of these methods was 

 used by the Indians of California years ago, when Argilophilus species were 

 used for food. A long crowbar is driven vertically into the soil and worked 

 sideways for a few minutes, when the worms will leave their holes and come 

 to the surface, where they may easily be gathered up. They may also be 

 forced to come out of the ground by wetting the soil with a weak solution of 

 sulphate of iron in water. A teaspoonful of the sulphate dissolved in a bucket 

 of water and poured over the ground will soon cause the worms to make 

 their appearance. As the epidermis is irritated by this means, the specimens 

 should be preserved as soon as possible. 



Care of the Worms. 



Oligochseta may be safely transported alive for thousands of miles even in 

 tropical climates, providing sufficient care be taken. They can best be sent 

 in a closed box which is entirely filled with soil, thus preventing movement 

 from side to side. The soil must be moist, but never wet. The box with 

 soil should always be enclosed in a larger box, and the space between filled 

 in with wood shavings or " excelsior." 



A better way is to use moss, especially sphagnum moss, instead of soil. 

 The moss should be soaked in water, then squeezed by hand until no more 

 water can be gotten from it. The box in which the worms are to be placed 

 should be packed full of the moss and placed in a larger box with damp moss 

 around it. Any water in the box v/ill cause the worms to die. No broken or 

 injured worms must ever be placed among the lot. Upon being received the 

 worms should be washed in clean water; they are then ready to be cleaned 

 from sand. 



The author finds the quickest and most satisfactory way of freeing specimens 

 from sand is to place them in a wet handkerchief or other cloth of cotton or 

 linen. The cloth should be slightly wet and the worms wrapped up in it and 

 placed in a glass jar closely covered. If the jar be now placed in a perfectly 

 dark place the worms will crawl about and free themselves from sand. This 

 method was found to be more satisfactory than the use of blotting paper. 



Narcotizing. 



A good way of narcotizing the worms previous to killing them is to use 

 chloroform as recommended by Perrier. A few precautions are nesessary. 

 Only a couple of drops should be used, and must not be mixed with the water. 

 A disregard of these precautions will cause the worms to become distorted and 

 to burst open in places. The direct influence of the chloroform vapors also 

 has the same effect. It is best to place the specimens in a flat dish and cover 



(ii) Jan. 15, 1900. 



