NO. 2263. NEW AFRICAN EARTHWORMS— SMITH AND GREEN. 165 





diverticula are free from the body wall and extend laterally to about 

 seta line h. The pores are referred to in the definition and in the 

 description of figures as accessory spermathecal pores (fig. lQ,astp). 



From the oviducal pores on the posterior part of 14, each of the 

 oviducts extends ventrad and then in a quite direct course to the 

 enlargement (eitrichterblase) just anteriad of the corresponding 

 ovisac (figs. 17 and 18B). From this it is continued in a rather 

 direct course to the corresponding furcal branch of the spermatheca 

 ■with which it communicates. One or two " samenkammerchen " 

 open into each duct and are more commonly compound with 

 three or four diverticula opening through a common ductule into 

 the oviduct. Figure 18B, s7c is from a section through the single 

 compound chamber of this v t ^ 



kind in the type specimen, y^^k^f^X' 

 and is through the cavities 

 of three such diverticula, all 

 of which communicate witli 

 the oviduct through a com- 

 mon opening. 



The pocketlike chambers 

 of the ovisacs, besides well- 

 grown ova, contain ovarian 

 cells in A^arious growth 

 stages (fig. 18, A and B). 

 No evidence was found 

 throwing light on the placid 

 of origin of the ovarian 

 tissue. 



It is apparent from the description of the new species that it 

 belongs to the genus Polytorcutus. P. tnultiporus differs from all 

 other described species of the genus in the following respects: There 

 are accessory spermathecal pores at 19/20-21/25 or 25/20 which open 

 from the posterior extension of the spermatheca; the ventral setae 

 of 19-26 or 27 are much modified and surrounded by papillae. The 

 above characters sharply distinguish the new species from others 

 thus far known. By the two large branches of the spermatheca at its 

 anterior end, P. multiporus is related to a group which includes 

 P. chaloncri and its allied forms, discussed in an earlier pare of the 

 paper, but is sufficiently distinguished from any of them by the 

 <ibove-mentioncd characters. 



Fig. 18.— Polytoreutus multiporus. Section 

 through ovisac. a. x3o0. 0, 0vai!i.\n cells in 

 different growth stages. b. x55. od, oviduct; 

 OS, ovisac; sk, diverticula of the multicham- 



BERED SAMENKAMMERCHEN. 



