970 NOTES ON AUSTRALIAN EARTHWORMS, 



anterior of XI. The small intestine extends from the posterior half 

 of x, or xi to xv, and in xvi commences the thin-walled sacculated 

 large intestine ; the former in segments xito xiv has the lumen of the 

 intennesenteric portions dilated, most noticeable in the last two ; the 

 latter in xxvi gives off a pair of lateral caeca turned forwards and 

 lying beside the canal in this and the two preceding segments, the 

 distal portions of their free tips being folded backwards otherwise 

 they would reach into xxiii. In a fresh specimen the alimentary 

 canal from the gizzard backwards and the dorsal vessel were coated 

 with orange (so-called hepatic) vasifactive tissue, which is not 

 noticeable in spirit specimens. 



Of testes there are two pairs of solid white bodies not racemose, 

 in segments xi and XII, partly attached to the anterior mesenteries 

 of these segments, the lower portions of those of each pair touch, 

 but it is difficult to say whether they are in any way confluent ; 

 there are two pairs of ciliated rosettes, a pair in each of segments 

 x and xi just in front of the posterior mesenteries of the segments ; 

 those of each pair do not, however, seem to be free in the segmental 

 cavities but to be enclosed within a delicate membranous sac whose 

 relations are difficult to make out, but probably communicating in 

 some way with the testes in the succeeding segments, or perhaps 

 both testes and ciliated rosettes are enclosed in prolongations of the 

 same sac. The two branches of each vas deferens join in xn on 

 each side, and the posterior portions of the vasa join the prostatic 

 ducts quite close to the prostates, which are smooth transversely 

 incised bodies lying in xvin ; the genital duct is £7-shaped with the 

 concavity of the bend looking outwards and backwards. The 

 ovaries are in xiii as usual, and the oviducts have the normal 

 relations. There are four pairs of spermathecas in segments vi to 

 ix, opening anteriorly \ each spermatheca consists of an elongate 

 somewhat depressed stalked pouch, with a long filiform caecum 

 with a dilated tip, about as long as the main pouch, given off 

 anteriorly. 



There are three pairs of large transverse hearts in xi to xiii ; 

 in front of xi the dorsal vessel runs along the top of the gizzard 

 and continues on to the pharnyx. 



