H. Fbibnd -jo-"* 



aud internal portion of each spermatheca is embedded in the epithelium 

 of the oesophagus (Plate XXIX, fig. 2, sp.) but does not open into the 

 digestive tract, as it is said to do in other species. It simply ends blindly 

 in the tissues of the intestinal canal. Neither do the posterior extremi- 

 ties of the two spermathecae join each other as is the case, for example, 

 with those of H. urbanensis Welch and H. moderate/, Welch. 



The sperm funnels (Plate XXXI, /.) whose mouths are usually filled 

 with masses of spermatozoa lie in the 11th segment. They are only 

 slightly longer than broad and are not perfectly symmetrical in shape, the 

 portion lying towards the dorsal side of the body being enlarged. The 

 collar is moderately large and slightly curved, and surrounds the 

 opening to the duct which passes through the septum into segment 12. 

 Here the duct is long and coiled (Plate XXXI, d.J.), but, unlike that 

 of Enchytraeus pellucidus Friend and some others, is confined to one 

 segment. It ends in the penial bulb (Plate XXXI, p.b.) ; an organ 

 which has been the subject of careful investigation by Eisen and others. 

 The relative size of the penial bulb can be easily judged by its relation 

 to the sperm funnels in the figure. It is small in comparison with 

 that of some other Enchytraeids and belongs to the group which Eisen 

 regards as lumbricillid in type. It is composed of two kinds of cells 

 and the sperm duct passes through it centrally. 



The testes originate in the posterior side of septum 10/11, by which 

 means they are placed in the anterior portion of the 11th segment, 

 in close proximity to the sperm funnels. Here may be found in the 

 fully adult worm, enormous masses of spermatozoa (Plate XXXI, sper.) 

 and in good sections the entire process of spermatogenesis can be readily 

 traced. Passing from the male organ in the form of intensely minute 

 spheres they rapidly develop and congregate around the mouth of the 

 sperm funnel, through which they pass to the aperture in segment 12. 



The ovaries lie in the adjoining segment, being attached to the 

 ventral portion of the septum 11/12. The developing ova are pushed 

 off and lie in the coelom of segment 12, but the oviduct and its pore 

 are aborted, and every attempt to find out how the eggs are deposited 

 in the cocoon has hitherto resulted in failure. 



Nephridia are present in segments 6/7 to 10/11, and again behind 

 the girdle. They are of the usual Enchytraeid type with a small 

 portion in front of the septum and a larger portion (postseptal) behind, 

 which contracts to form the duct immediately behind the septum. 

 The duct and postseptal are about of equal length (Plate XXXI, ne/ph.). 



Chloragogen cells. It is a usual thing for Enchytraeids to possess 



