239 
notice. It may be mentioned that the. eique of. a rot 
received iu this country have been subm to Mr.F 
F.Z.S., Prosector to the Zoological eus who res that the ey 
belong to a probably new ‘species of the genus Siphonogaster. The 
type of this genus has been quite lately described from the Nile mud.* 
Any further results ` that may be obtained with regard to the worms 
t š 
m 
is probably of a purely cic nature. ‘They, in fact, work the 
soil and expose it to the light and air, and thus ridi it capable, with 
little further preparation, for the production of recurring crops of 
yams, corn, cotton, and tobacco 
Sir ALFRED MOLONEY to COLONIAL OFFICE. 
Government House, Lagos, 
Mx Lorp, June 11, 1890, 
In connexion with his recent visit to the in rior I have the 
honour to transmit copy of a paper by Mr. Alvan Millson on the soi 
and cultivation of Yorubalaud, with special remarks on the work of 
earthworms. 
2. I also forward, addressed to the Under Secretary of State to the 
care of the Crown Agents, a box containing six specimens collected and 
referred to by Mr. Millson 
3. Mr. Millson suggests that the specimens of soil should be 
analysed by an expert in England, and that the earthworms should be 
examined by a competent authority with a view to determining their 
cies. 
xd I venture to support Mr. Millson's suggestions, and would ask 
your — "s be good enough to allow the analysis and examination 
to: be carried o 
5. Should yam Lordship Me 9 such investigations, I would 
further ask, in the interests of science and as a contribution to our 
knowledge of the resources of thei interior, that Mr. Millson’ 8 paper and 
rinted. 
as personally observed, I can endorse Mr. Millson's remarks on the 
wonderful activity and utility of this West African silent fertiliser. 
7. It will be interesting to know whether the creatures are the same 
acies their castings seem to poiat to a richer soil in Pokrah than at 
Iki 
4 Z "The Y Yoruba d n earthworm is Ekolo, and for its srry da 
Ifinkolo; in fishing the former is used as in other of t 
- orld for eare while is latter is commonly used as plaster for he T: 
‘walls of hous a 
e, &c. 
(Signed) D Moose. 
The Right Hon 
Lord Knutsford, G.C.M.G., &c. 
* Om to ormslegter fra Ægypten.” Vidensk. Medd, natur. 
Ju CR i 7 M in Amen 319. ; 
