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The aims of the present study, which was part of our comprehensive investigation of rock grasslands of Hungary, were to explore the enchytraeid fauna of Sas-hegy Nature Conservation Area, and to get knowledge on some ecological cha¬racteristics of this family. Ten enchytraeid species of five genera were found during the investigations; one of them, Achaeta antefolliculata proved to be new to science. The fact that the species Fridericia maculatiformis and Fridericia tubulosa proved to be dominant in the opened rock grasslands of Hungary might lead to a conclusion that they are the most characteristics species of these kind of habitats. The investigations of rock grasslands of Sas-hegy and other Hungarian hills, e.g. Szent György Hill, Nagy Szénás Hill and Villányi Mountains, show that the enchytraeid fauna of these localities are affected by the actual status of microhabitats (organic matter content, soil moisture, plant covering).

During the 12th International Symposium on Enchytraeidae, held in Tihany, Hungary (27–29 June 2016), the participants discussed cryptic species, i.e., species that are morphologically so similar that they are classified as the same species (Bickford et al. 2007), and how to deal with them taxonomically. Here we summarise the discussion together with a few additional comments, and we give recommendations for species descriptions in Enchytraeidae.

Some enchytraeid species of tropical, subtropical or Mediterranean origin can appear in artificial environments,e.g. green houses due to the worldwide commercial network. Since the used soil from green houses is often disposed outdoors, aquestion raised that these exotic enchytraeid species could survive under continental climate conditions. In this experiment two ofthe resettled green house species survived outdoors the winter frost and the arid summer season in Hungary.

The high humus and organic material content of potting compost is favourable for detritivores such as enchytraeidworms. An investigation was carried out to clarify which enchytraeid species can be found in this medium. A really lowabundance and number of species were found and all of them were well known cosmopolitan species. Consequently, the use ofthese composts probably cannot cause the increase or invasion of new species, in spite of the worm’s special breeding strategies.

The catalogue of the enchytraeid spirit collection in the Natural History Museum, London is presented.Two lists are given: 1) Inventory of the collection listed in alphabetical order of genera, and 2) Alphabeticallist of the species with the valid genera names.

Reported in this paper are findings recorded from nine thyroid cancer patients in childhood and adolescence. T-cell sub-populations were determined by means of the rosette method and by reference to monoclonal antibodies. The investigations were concerned also with detectability of tumour antigens and with cytotoxicity. The immune activity exhibited by young patients was better than that recordable from adults. These findings are likely to suggest relative benignity of thyroid cancer, when surgically treated in childhood and adolescence.