BRITISH WELL-WORMS.
9
worms which had then been described as British. As I
hesitated to found a new species or genus on a solitary specimen,
however well marked it might be, I wrote to Dr. Wheeler thank-
ing him for the steps he had taken, and urging him to try and
secure duplicates. His reply was as follows :—
Chelmsford,
24th November, 1892.
My Dear Sir,
Please accept my thanks for your letter respecting the interesting
worm I sent you. I at once communicated the interest you took in the
matter, and he (the patient) has promised that he will, as soon as he
sees another, let me have it. I have advised him to proceed to get
some out of the well, as you suggest there are more there. I should
have written before, but hoped another worm might have been pro-
cured.
When alive it was extremely active in its movements, and appeared
unusually pointed at both extremities, which it moved so much alike
that for a time I could not discover which was its head. It appeared
very long in proportion to its thickness. With thanks for your inform-
ation, and hoping I may before long be able to get more tor you,
Believe me, yours faithfully,
Daniel Wheeler.
I regret to say that from that day to this I have failed to
secure a duplicate, though it is certain that others must often
have been observed. With a view to securing interest in the
matter I sent a note to the Editor of the Essex Naturalist
in December, 1892, 'and later in 1896 a brief description
under the name "Dilitata curvisetosa, Nov. sp. et Gen.", 2
and also in The Naturalist. The principal details have
already been given, but as the worm is now clearly a member
of a genus already described the name must be corrected. I
shall give a full description in a later issue of the Essex
Naturalist, and trust that in the meanwhile the readers will
make efforts to secure me more material. Worms found in
wells may at once be transferred to glycerine, but it is prefer-
able to send them alive in a small bottle with water to the
Editor or direct to the Rev. Hilderic Friend. Ocker Hill,
Tipton, Staffordshire.
1 Essex Naturalist, vol. vi., p. 189 (1892).
2 ''Notes on Essex Worms (Oligochaeta). Description of a species new to Britain
(Henlea ventriculosa, D'Udekem) and of a genus and species new to science (Dichaeta
curvisetosa, Friend), both from Essex," Essex Naturalist, vol, ix., pp. 110-111 (1896).