QUARTERLY CHRONICLE. 89 



colour, and formed rather more than half a sphere. Two 

 distinct portions might be discerned in them, an outer, con- 

 sisting apparently of radiating rods or fibres in close apposi- 

 tion, and a basal portion of a solid homogeneous substance, 

 forming a short stumpy peduncle. 



The author observes that these polar appendages doubtless 

 correspond with those noticed by Leuckart in the ova of 

 three other species of Ephemeridse : Palingenia horaria, 

 Oxycypha hictuosa, and O. lactea ; and which were described 

 by that observer as constituted of adherent masses of sper- 

 matozoa, struggling to enter the micropyle. Dr. Grenacher, 

 however, has traced the gradual formation of these appendages 

 from the ovarian ovum, and shows clearly enough that they 

 are not of the nature assigned to them by Leuckart. 



He farther describes other curious appendages which arise 

 to the number of from eight to twelve in two circular zones 

 from the source of the ovum. When fully developed, they 

 consist of an elongated filament composed of excessively 

 delicate fibrils, from four to six times as long as the ovum, 

 and supporting at the extremity a globular capitulum, which 

 seems to be fashioned something like a suctorial acetabulum. 

 He regards these processes as serving to fix the ovum upon 

 foreign bodies, and consequently terms them " anchors. ^^ 



IV. '' Contributions to the Anatomy of EnchytrcBUS vermicu- 

 Im'is," by Fritz Ratzel. 



This paper contains — 



1. A description of a special pharyngeal system of nerves, 

 corresponding apparently with the visceral nerves in various 

 other annelids. 



2. On the structure and development of the receptacula 

 seminis. 



The author is inclined, with M. Claparede, to look upon 

 these organs, and consequently. uj)on their homologues in 

 the earth-worm, as representing a portion, at any rate, of the 

 " segmental organ," and so far to agree with the views of 

 the late Dr. Williams. A view in which, however, from a 

 study of these parts in Lumbricus, we are not inclined to 

 coincide; seeing that in that Annelid, at any rate, the 

 segments in which the spermatic receptacles are found at the 

 proper period, also contain at the same time the entire 

 segmental organ ; as, in fact, Buchholtz says they do in 

 Enchytroeus itself. 



3. The salivarv jrlands are described as branched tubular 

 organs, which open into the ventral side of the pharynx 

 in the third segment of the body. 



4. Miscellaneous observations. — In these it may be noted 



VOL. VIII. NEW SER. G 



