248 ‘ THE ZOOLOGIST. 
the need arises. I have elsewhere called attention to the fact 
that if one turns over large stones which have been lying 
sufficiently long to cause the grass to decay, it is no unusual 
thing to find that such a worm as Lumbricus rubellus is attended 
by a species of Fridericia or other Enchytreid. I believe that 
later on, as the process of decay advances, other Enchytreids 
put in an appearance and carry on the work. 
If now we take a definite view of the matter we see how 
reasonable it is. And if it should prove that many or all of 
these minute worms are annuals, the explanation will be all the 
simpler. Suppose that in autumn the process of decay in 
vegetable life sets in. The living annelids on the spot take up 
the task of breaking down the waste. In time their eggs are 
laid, and they cease to work. But now the annelids emerge 
from the cocoons which were deposited some time before, and 
they find themselves surrounded by vegetable matter which has 
already been prepared by their predecessors. These now take 
up the task and carry it forward another stage, until possibly 
a third or a fourth relay of Enchytreids of different species or 
different genera come to the fore. When these have completed 
their task, the autumn has again come round, and the group of 
worms whose task it is to begin the attack on new débris is now 
emerging from the cocoons which were deposited some months 
before. 
Evidently much needs to be done in order to place these 
surmises on a scientific basis. The only way to place the 
matter beyond doubt would be for the naturalist to map out a 
suitable field, and work it steadily and systematically for a 
couple of years. He would record all the species of annelids 
which he discovered, note their relative number, the times of 
their appearance and disappearance, the state of decay as the 
seasons advanced, and the condition of the material in the in- 
testines of the annelids at different times. 
It need hardly be said that this unexplored field is one of the 
most vital importance in relation to agriculture and horticulture, 
when we remember that the oozy matter on our river banks, 
and the alluvium which is so valuable an asset, is in large 
measure passed through the bodies of annelids, and probably 
owes much of its value for agricultural purposes to that fact. 
