156 Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. 



(fig. 13, f) consist of a short thick duct, in whicli the lumen is very narrow, 

 and a large, thin-walled ampulla, ahout three times as long as the duct. 

 From the base of the ampulla depends a single oval diverticulum. 

 The sperm-funnel (fig. 13, g) is about one and a half times as long as broad, 

 with a prominent lip. The duct is fairly long, about eight times as long as 

 the funnel. It terminates in a pear-shaped penial bulb, which is slightly 

 smaller than the funnel. Close to the external opening of the penis, a 

 number of separate prostates open into the duct. 



The ovisac extends back into the 15th segment. The structure of the 

 spermathecce, and the uniform size of the setae, indicate a relationship with 

 M. fiavus (Lev.). It differs from the latter species in the number of seta, 

 septal glands, shape of brain and nephridia, etc. In M. flavus the setfe 

 number 4-6 in a bundle, there are only three pairs of septal glands, the 

 brain is as long as broad, and the anteseptal of the nephridium has a 

 distinct neck, 



December, January, February. 



Habitat — First taken near Montpelier, Co. Dublin, under stones, in 

 moss, etc., December 1907, when it was quite mature. In February, 1908, 

 mature specimens were sent to me by Mr. W, Evans, from a roadside near 

 Edinburgh. 



Enchytraeus albidus Henle. 



? 1899. E. iJellncidus, Friend, Zoologist, vol. iii., p. 264. 



1900. E. a., Michaelsen, Tierreich, x., p. 89. 



1906. E. a., Southern in Irisli Nat., vol. xv., p. 184. 



1907. E. fl., Southern in Irish Nat., vol. xvi., p. 71. 



This is the commonest Enchytrasid in the British Isles. It is found on 

 the shore, in soil, manure, &c. 



The species E. ijellucidus described by Friend (tom. cit.) appears to be a 

 variety of this species, only differing in several small points. The brain is 

 rounded behind instead of concave ; and the duct of the spermatheca has no 

 glands. I have seen undoubted specimens of E. aJhidus showing these 

 variations. The locality given, viz. old stable manure, is a special favourite 

 of E. albidus. 



Mature — March-September. 



Habitat — Ireland. Common in Cos. Dublin, Kerry, Donegal. 

 England. Lancashire (Adlington). 

 Scotland. Fife (Aberdour) ; Linlithgow (Dalmeny) ; Edinburgh. 



Distribution — Common in British Isles ; Europe ; North and South 

 America ; Xew Zealand. 



