679 



the Oligochaeta, that Perricr's observations on the male reproductive 

 system shoukl be correct; and this improbability is very greatly in- 

 creased by the observations of Horst and myself. Furthermore it seems 

 to me that Perrier's description can be construed in a different sense, 

 and one which brings his observations more into accord with those of 

 Horst and myself. 



The »testes« of the 8th segment are described byPerrier as form- 

 ing each »une petite masse ovoide d'un blanc crayeux«; the ovoid shape 

 and the white colour distinguish, also the spermathecae of M. Barwelli. 

 The »vas deferens« (entortillée comme serait un Gorclius) I have already 

 identified* with the much convoluted stalk of the spermatheca in my 

 species. I have since investigated this region of the body by transverse 

 and longitudinal sections. I found that the spermatheca is lined by tall 

 columnar cells as in other earthworms, outside which are muscular 

 layers abundantly supplied with bloodvessels ; the stalk is lined by a 

 cubical epithelium but has the same muscular coat; I could discover 

 no trace of cilia. It would be impossible, I think, from the minute 

 structure of this organ to regard it as anything but a spermatheca. 

 Per ri er however describes the termination of the »vas deferens« in a 

 funnel ; the only structure with which I can identify this is the mesen- 

 terial fold which supports the spermatheca. 



The supposed anterior pair of prostate glands of Moniligaster Des- 

 hayesi are identified by Horst^ with the spermatheca of our species; 

 I would myself suggest that they correspond to acessory spermathecal 

 pouches which are so commonly present in Lumbricidae ; the fact that 

 they lie in a segment anterior to that which contains the spermatheca 

 is quite reconcileable with such an hypothesis as to their nature ; while 

 their peculiar structure as depicted in Perrier's figures ^ is paralleled 

 in the case of Acanthodrilus Novae-Zelandiae^ . 



With regard to the apertures lying between segments 9 — 10) in M. 

 Barwelli) — the posterior pair of orifices — there is practically no 

 difference between the statements ofPerrier, Horst and myself. 

 We all agree that the vas deferens opens on the one hand into a »pro- 

 state« gland and is connected on the other with seminal reservoirs. The 

 form of the so called »prostate« however differs somewhat in the three 

 species ; in M. Deshayesi, M. Houtcni the ;)prostate« is a long tubular 

 body similar in general appearance to a corresponding structure in 

 Acanthodrilus. In M. Barwelli the »prostate« is a small oval body into 



4 1. c. p. 97. 



5 1. c. p. 100. 



6 1. c. Vol. IV. fig. 79. 



7 Proc. Zool. Soc. 1885. Vol. LIII. figs. 3 cp, 8. 



