147 



diameter. In all of the specimens examined the funnels are cylindrical 

 and strongly bent near the middle, usually reflected upon themselves. 

 The collar at the anterior end of the funnel is usually somewhat wavy 

 in outline and \-aries in shape, being- sometimes slightly reflected and 

 sometimes flaring. The duct extends through XI/XII, and after a 

 few contortions, extends directly to the penial bulb. 



Southern ('09, p. 149) claims that the sperm funnel in the genus 

 Ltimbncilhis is "very contractile" and "varies greatly" in its relative 

 proportions according to the amount of tension on it. He holds that 

 "specific determinations, therefore, which rely on these two charac- 

 ters [the funnel and the ventral glands], must be regarded with sus- 

 picion, especially when preserved material has been used." No evi- 

 dence of such variation has been found in L. rutihis — at least not 

 enough to warrant so strong a statement as the above. It is quite 

 doubtful if the spermiducal funnel in L. rutilits is "very contractile," 

 since its structure is such as to preclude exceptional contractility. The 

 muscular tissue is reduced almost to a minimum, and since the bulk 

 of the organ is composed of long, closely set cells and the lumen is 

 very fine it does not appear reasonable to expect great contractility in 

 the funnel of this species. 



Pcuial Bulb. — This organ (PI. IX, Fig. 24) is rather simple in its 

 structure and conforms to the lumbricillid type. It is rather large as 

 compared with the diameter of the body, is approximately globular 

 in shape, and is covered by a musculature which is a reflection of the 

 musculature of the body wall. This muscular covering is composed 

 of both the circular and longitudinal layers. The circular muscles lie 

 in contact with the gland cells of the bulb and are very much re- 

 duced in thickness, so much so that it is difficult to demonstrate them 

 wdth high powers. However, close observation shows that there is a 

 very thin layer present, and in transverse sections it is easy to dis- 

 tinguish strands of muscle fibers passing from the circular layer of 

 the body wall to the periphery of the bulb in two different regions; 

 namely, between the entrance of the sperm duct and the body w-all, 

 and between the periphery of the bulb and the ventral body wall. The 

 longitudinal layer is well developed, and in transverse sections it shows 

 the same structure as that of the body wall, the only difference being 

 a reduction in thickness. The interior of the bulb is filled with cells 

 of but one kind. These cells differ somewhat in shape in the different 

 parts of the bulb, but in general they are elongate, somewhat uni- 

 fonn, and most of them are arranged radially around the penial lumen. 

 The nuclei are located for the most part in the peripheral ends of the 

 cells. The peripheral part of each cell stains deeply, while the opposite 



