154 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



the dark as to the morphological meaning of these pores." No 

 relations are apparent between the dorsal pores and the nephridia. 

 Michaelsen thinks the dorsal pores "have the function of nourish- 

 ing the body and prevent its becoming unduly dry ; it is certain 

 that the coelomic fluid is pressed out through the pores, and their 

 occlusion is regulated by longitudinal muscles. . . . Perhaps in the 

 Oligochseta the dorsal pores pass out the waste fluids, while the 

 remaining excretory products are elaborated and passed out by 

 the nephridia." 



Thus we see that even now, notwithstanding the large amount 

 of attention which has been paid to Earthworms during the past 

 decade, we are very badly informed on many points connected 

 with their economy ; and there is great need that some one, with 

 the necessary leisure, means, and scientific training, should in- 

 vestigate some of the details more fully. I have been able to make 

 great progress with my work on the distribution and revision of 

 the British Lumbricidse, till recently almost totally neglected ; 

 and hope by the due publication of the new and interesting 

 results to stimulate further research on the part of others. 



Meanwhile, so far as the dorsal pores are concerned, they 

 appear to be for the emission rather than the introduction of 

 fluids; and are apparently lubricative, excretory, and protective. 

 Their homology with certain organs found in other annelids 

 does not seem to have been carefully ascertained; at any rate I 

 know of nothing on the subject in English. 





