402 



mother cells (easily distinguishable from ova !) and all traces of female 

 cells were absent*. 



b. Every one of the forms presumably hermaphrodite contained 

 undoubted ovarial cells , the largest ones had many large eggs , and 

 even in the smallest specimens the peritoneal epithelium in various 

 places was of such a character as to leave no doubt regarding its ova- 

 rial nature. 



A fuller statement of these results, Avith figures, is reserved. 



The facts just recorded take away the basis of Wheeler's hypo- 

 thetical ideas of the » course of events « in the later life-history of M. 

 glabrimi. It becomes obvious that the «males« are not forms which, 

 after the death of the hermaphrodite on which they sit, change into 

 hermaphrodites by removing their quarters to a more favourable posi- 

 tion near the mouth of their host. Their smaller fellows on the disc 

 are already hermaphrodite while they are still male, and indeed there 

 is not a particle of evidence to show that these males ever do become 

 hermaphrodites . 



Their position on the hermaphrodite is peculiar. It is very con- 

 stant, and not as far forward as it would be if its sole purpose were to 

 bring them near the mouth of the host. Sometimes a small form was 

 found seated on the side wall , instead of on the back of a large her- 

 maphrodite, and such specimens, which thus did not occupy the nor- 

 mal position of a male, invariably turned out to be hermaphrodite. 



From a small table made ten years ago at Naples of 32 specimens 

 of Antedon got on four different occasions , and all infested with M. 

 (jlahrum, the following is gathered : 



Antedon ^ M. glabrum 



1 had 2 



7 had each 2 or more 



14 had each 1 



10 had each 1 



Among other things^ this table of the condition of things in a 

 series of forms taken quite at random proves that the males occur far 

 more frequently where only one hermaphrodite is seated on the host, 

 and thus where there is least crowding on the disc. Where this latter 

 occurs, the males are almost invariably absent, indeed I have no re- 



* Except the so-called ovaries ofWheeler; these may quite possibly be ru- 

 dimentary or »accessory« testes in the male. At least Wheel er' s observations prove 

 nothing to the contrary. 



5 It also disproves in another way Wheeler's idea of the manner in which 

 the males become hermaphrodites, for on his hypothesis the »males« ought tobe 

 more abundant than is actually the case. 



