On a specimen of Lumbricus terrestris, L. with bifurcated tail

In the last number of the »Annals and Magazine of Nat. History” (Dec. 1885), I find a notice of Prof. Jeffrey Bell about two Lumbrici with bifid hinder ends, one specimen belonging to L. terrestris, the other to L. foetidus; moreover he mentions a specimen, presenting a similar remarquable arrangement, in the University Museum at Oxford. The occurrence appearing to be rather rare, I may describe here another two-tailed specimen of Lumbricus terrestris received by me from a fisherman about a year ago. The worm bad a length of about 90—100 m. m., while the tails measured about 25 m. m.; the right one however was a little shorter than the left. The structure of the tails appeared quite normal. The dorsal vessel, shining through the skin, was seen dividing into two equal branches at the point of bifurcation; moreover each tail shows the two lateral rows of bristles. The clitellum was not visible. The worm lived for several weeks under my care, and was put afterwards in alcohol to preserve it for examination.