TAYLOR: DOMINANCY IN NATURK. 
19 
The OligfOChaeta or Earthworms are perhaps, next tlie iiKjllusca, 
the group in which a more scientific classification has allowed the 
significance of their geographical distribution to be appreciated and 
they furnish a very striking confirmation of the testimony of the 
mollusca, which will probably be even more complete as further 
evidence is obtainM and the scheme of classification still further 
perfected. 
The Earthworms are divided by Mr. F. E. Beddard, the principal 
student of the subject in this country, into three great groups : 
Lumbi'icidw, Megascolecidw, and Geoscolecidw, to which I would 
suggest adding AcjiuthodriUdw by raising the AcantkodrUiuw to 
family rank, a proposal based on the striking significance of their 
distribution. 
m*; 
-3 — ^ 
— 
-r 
9% 
km 
/ 
r 
* v / 
>-<^ ». 
J. ■ * 
1 ■■ 
Fig. 7 — Geographical distribution of the Oligochceta or Earthworms, illustrating its remark- 
able correspondence with that of the HelicidtP and other life, the various areas being inhabited by- 
groups of analogous dominating power and also indicating the probable identitj^ of the migrators- 
paths resulting in similarity of distril)Ution. 
The Yellow areas indicate the countries to which the most primitive earthworms, the 
Acanthodrilidce, aVe now restricted and where they are still dominant. The Blue represents 
the regions now occupied by the stronger and later evolved Geoscolecidce ; the regions coloured 
Purple are those of the still more dominating Megascolecidce ; while the Red includes the site 
of the evolutionary area and the ground now naturally occupied Ijy the predominant Lumbricidcr. 
The LuMBRiciDiE are, according to Mr. Beddard, the most highly 
endowed and latest evolved earthworms in the world, and absolutely 
predominant over all others ; they are characteristic of the Palaearctic 
region, and especially of Europe, and exactly correspond in range and 
dominancy with the Siphonadeniate mollusca and are probably 
following the sanie migratory paths. The Lumbricids have also a 
marvellous capacity for migration and for adaptation to new circum- 
stances, establishing themselves everywhere with remarkable celerity, 
and quickly driving off the native worms : in fact, in New Zealand, 
South America, and other archaic lands, it is now almost impossible 
to procure native worms near the settlements, the Lumbricids having 
taken full possession of the ground. 
