8 BRITISH WELL-WORMS.
deutet auf die am Ende sichel förmig gebogenen Jugend—Borsten des
Phreoryctes hin. Vor alleni ist es die weiter unten näher zu erörternde
Angabe, dass die Borsten schon mit dem 1 Segment beginnen sollen, die
jeden zweifel über die Zugehörigkeit des betreffenden Stückes zu P.
gordioides ausschliesst."2
A little later (p. 109) in speaking of the specialized setae,
Michaelsen continues :—
" Jenes Exemplar, zeigt zugleich, dass jener sprunghafte Borslen.
wechsel nicht in der ganzen Körperlänge zu gleicher Zeit eintritt, und
bietet in so fern auch eine Erklarung für die Angabe Friend's, dass bei
Dichaeta curvisetosa die Borsten der Segmente 11 bis 14 modificirt sein
sollen."3
The foregoing quotations are sufficient for my purpose and
I have to thank Dr. Michaelsen for having made it possible for
me to give my worm its true position. I cannot, however, agree
with him that the species now under review is to be identified
with those which have been previously described.
§ The Essex Well Worm.
Six years and a half ago I received the following letter :—
Chelmsford,
4th November, 1892.
My Dear Sir,
I enclose in a bottle with glycerine a worm I received from a
patient, who had taken it from his well. It was then, and until a few
days ago, extremely active in its movements, and very difficult to
examine. What I saw was so different from any I had seen before
that I thought it might be of interest to you, and placed it in glycerine
so as to preserve it as much as possible in a natural state.
Believe me, dear Sir,
Yours faithfully,
Daniel Wheeler.
Attached to the bottle was a label bearing the following
particulars:—"Worm found in a well at Chelmsford, Oct., 1892,
Remarkably active when alive a few days ago. As soon as dead
put in glycerine."
I at once examined the worm, which was entirely new to
me, and different in every important detail from all the aquatic
2 Translation:—The species which Mr. Friend has recently described (Naturalist,
1896), under the name of Dichaeta curvisetosa must also be referred to Phreoryctes. Owing
to the fact that the author himself had but one specimen, and that not adult, the description
is very inadequate. In spite of this, however, the Phreoryctes nature of the worm can be
discovered. The specific name curvisetosa, moreover, sets forth the characteristic sickle-
shaped form of the setae in Phreoryctes, while a further confirmation of the identity is
furnished by the statement that they commence on the first segment—a point which finally
settles its relationship to P. gordioides.
3 Explanation:—Michaelsen refers to a tact which he has been elucidating. This, he
says, may also be taken as throwing light on my statement that the setae on segments 11—14
differ from those ou the rest of the body.