56 SUMMARY OF CURRENT RESEARCHES RELATING TO 



study of AllolobopJiora fcetida, in which Beddard refers the luminosity to 

 the slime secreted by the epidermis. 



Cocoons of Allolobophora foetida.* — Miss K. Foot has been able 

 to watch the processes of cocoon formation and copulation in this worm, 

 and has obtained some most interesting results. As already noticed by 

 other observers, the copulating worms have their anterior segments 

 encased in a slimy substance, but Miss Foot finds that two cocoons are 

 formed during copulation within the slimy substance, which forms a 

 definite slime-tube. Within this slime-tube, during the early stages 

 of cocoon formation, there is found the seminal fluid, containing free 

 spermatozoa and spermatophores. Part of the function of the slime- 

 tube is no doubt to enclose the seminal fluid until the cocoon is formed ; 

 but it also serves to protect the cocoon in the early stages while this 

 is still soft. When the two cocoons are deposited, each is invested by a 

 part of the slime-tube, and is perfectly white ; as the cocoon hardens 

 and darkens on exposure to air, the slime-tube disintegrates. The 

 author describes in detail the breeding season and breeding habits of 

 the species at Evanston and Wood's Holl, and the methods employed by 

 her in obtaining eggs and cocoons, and in studying liviDg eggs. In 

 studying the process of copulation many observations were made to 

 try to determine the exact function of the spermathecas. Though the 

 results are not quite decisive, it would seem possible that there are two 

 copulations, during the course of the first of which the spcrmathecre are 

 filled, while in the second the cocoons are formed. There is at least no 

 doubt that both cocoons are formed during copulation. The spermato- 

 phores are formed by the aggregation of numerous spermatozoa round 

 minute masses of white granular substance secreted by minute in tegu- 

 mental glands placed on segments 9-11. The substance is probably 

 nutritive, and the sperms cluster round it after leaving the spermathecae. 

 Many of the minute phenomena of maturation and fertilisation were 

 observed in the living eggs. 



In regard to the figures, special mention should be made of a singu- 

 larly clear and beautiful drawing of two worms in copulo. 



Swiss Oligochseta.t — K. Bretscher records a number of new forms, 

 and makes some interesting faunistic notes. The greatest novelty is 

 Aulodrilus limnobius g. et sp. n., which cannot at present be ranked 

 either with the Lumbriculidae or with the Tubificidie, though perhaps 

 it is near the latter. The list includes six new species of Allolobophora, 

 four of Fridericia, two of Enchytrseus, and so on. 



Valvular Apparatus in Dorsal Vessel of Enchytraeids.* — Sig. L. 

 Cognetti notes Beddard's statement " nella sua splendida Monograph 

 of Oligochseta " that valves do not appear to occur in the lower Oligo- 

 chseta, except in Phreoryctes. He has found a true valvular apparatus 

 in the dorsal vessel of Anachseta earner ani, Fridericia bichseta subsp. 

 tenuis, Fr. ralzelii, and Enchytrseus buchholzii. He also concludes that 

 the parietal Blutzellen or Drusenzellen of Nussbaum represent a less 

 differentiated form of valvular apparatus. 



* Journ. Morphol., xiv. (1898) pp. 481-506 (1 pi. and 1 fig?.), 

 t Rev. Suisse Zool., vi. (1899) pp. 369-426 (7 figs.). 

 X Atti Accad. Torino, xxxiv. (1899) pp. 1028-34 (1 pi.). 



