2Q Art. 2. — T. Kacuraki : 



ment membrane, directly external to which are two layers of 

 internal circular and external longitudinal muscular fibres. Em- 

 bedded in the parenchyma around the vagina are numerous glands 

 which open into its lumen. 



As to the function of the organ usually called the uterus much 

 discussion has arisen up to the present. By some authorities 

 (Hallez (34), Chichkoff (17), etc.), who observed spermatozoa, 

 egg-cells and yolk-cells contained in the cavity of the organ, it 

 w^as alleged that the union of the sexual elements takes place in 

 its lumen; while some authorities (Ijima (38), Mattiesek (52), 

 <3tc.) assumed the formation of the cocoon in its cavity, ascribing 

 the source of the capsule to the glandular wall; and the remainder 

 (von Kennel, Burr (16), Wilhelmi (96), etc.) regarded the organ 

 as representing a seminal receptacle. Of the above views the last 

 is now generally accepted. As mentioned above, in some cases 

 the oi'gan contains spermatozoa enveloped in a coagulum of the 

 secretion, while in other cases it contains a well-formed sperma- 

 tophore, or rather the capsule of an empty spermatophore. In 

 my opinion, the}" had been introduced by the act of copulation 

 from another individual, as has been mentioned by some previous 

 waiters. Thereby I am also of the same view as first expounded 

 by von Kennel, but I believe that the organ in question is to be 

 shown as the main or primary seminal receptacle. It has perhaps 

 no function in connexion with the fecundation nor with the forma- 

 tion of the cocoon. It may be that the secretion of the uterine 

 wall acts not only as nutrient medium for prolonging the activit}'- 

 of the male element, but also as the agent of dissolving up the 

 substance of the spermatophore capsule, as already mentioned. 



As regards the spermatozoa contained in the ampullaceous 

 passage of the oviduct, the tuba, which is in contact v\'ith the 

 ovary, I have met with such on several occasions in the species 

 examined by me. How the spermatozoa reach the lumen of the 

 tuba cannot be exactly elucidated. It may be, as stated by Burr, 

 that the spermatozoa transferred by copulation into the so-called 

 uterus, after leaving it, make their w^ay into the oviduct being 

 enticed by a certain chemotactic irritation. As mentioned by 



