144 FRIEND: NEW AND LITTLE-KNOWN OLIGOCHJETS. 



stands at the head of this notice. He says (Q. J. M. Sc., xxxm. 

 p. 209): 'In a gathering made July 17th, just below Goring-on- 

 Thames, I found a few small red worms, about one-third the size of 

 an ordinary Tubifex [?], namely, about an inch in length. . . . The 

 specific characters are as follows: Prostomium conical, two and a 

 half times as long as the buccal segment, and differing in shape from 

 both of the previous species. The segments, after the first three, 

 are biannulated, the smaller annulus being anterior. This annulu- 

 is very small in anterior segments, but behind the clitellum it is 

 a third as large as the posterior annulus. . . . All the chaste are 

 notched ; and, like those of Lumbriculus, have the distal or upper 

 tooth much smaller than the lower. The dorsal vessel is not dilated 

 in any segment; the sperm-sacs are paired, and have the norma! 

 arrangement, extending as far back as segment xvi. The spermatheca 

 lies in segment ix. entirely. The characteristic penis differs from 

 that of both the previous species in shape and size. It has a length 

 just a little greater than half the width of the body. It is not so 

 narrow relatively as that of Si. gabretce ; it is not so pointed as in 

 Si. heringianus. In normal position its free end is on a level with 

 the chaetae of segment xi. . . „ The length is about an inch : none of 

 my specimens exceeded this length. In colour they are bright red. 

 with a tendency to orange; but the colour is much less marked 

 anteriorly and posteriorly, where it is dull pale yellow. They are very 

 active little worms.' Thus far Benham. I have omitted his account 

 of the nephridia, as not being essential to my purpose. 



And now for my own researches. This pretty, active worm is found 

 in the rivers Cocker and Derwent around Cockermouth, among the 

 ooze on the margins of the streams ; also in mud on the sides of ponds, 

 and among the soft earth on the shores of Derwentwater, near Lodore. 

 I have gathered it repeatedly during the past six months, and could 

 not fail to identify it with Benham's species. I have queried one 

 remark in the foregoing description, which, as it affects the length of 



bift 



observations the following entries : — The 



Tubift 



be 



North of England. They may. however, us 

 the fact that while Stylodrilus attempts to scuttle away from observa- 

 tion, Tubijex forms itself into a coil or ball. They are frequentl 

 found in each others company. Examined under the microscope, 

 the absence of the hair-like setse which characterise Tubifex, a 

 once serves as a prominent mark of distinction. The seta ar 

 in pairs, four couples being found on each segment, sigmoid in 

 hape. CEsophagus beginning immediately behind the septum 1 



Natural 



