172 Records of the Indian Museum. [Vol. X, 



The spicules (fig. 23) are two in number and are so delicate 

 that they are invisible when not extended. Each spicule measures 

 •0765 mm. in length ; is hollow at its base (figs. 33 and 34), where 

 it measures -0068 mm. in breadth. Toward the point it becomes 

 flattened and bears five longitudinal ribs on its outer and posterior 

 surface. It has a reversed $ -shaped curve, curving outward 

 and backward at the tip. An accessory piece has not been 

 observed. 



The testis is a single tube which is sharply bent upon itself. 

 The fundus (fig, 31) lies i mm. in front of the tip of the tail. 

 From the fundus the testicular tube runs forward to the mid- 

 point of the body where it comes in contact with the body of the 

 ventral gland. It here bends abruptly and runs backward (fig. 

 26). After the bend the sperm mother cells are arranged in a 

 definite cylinder, the nuclei around the periphery. The testis is 

 succeeded by a dilated thin-walled seminal vesicle (fig, 31), and 

 this in turn by a thick- walled ductus ejaculatorius (figs. 32-35). 

 The junction of the rectum and ductus is surrounded by unicellu- 

 lar glands the cells belonging to the lateral and midventral lines 

 (fig. 34). The glands have well-developed tubular ducts. 



Ventral gland. At the middle of the body a large unicellular 

 gland occupies the ventral half of the body cavity (fig. 25). The 

 protoplasm of this cell stains only with difiiculty, is granular and 

 contains two canaliculi in its substance. Shortly behind the 

 middle of the body this cell divides into two finger-like processes 

 (fig, 26), which as they run backward come into more and more 

 close relationship with the two lateral fines (fig. 27), ultimately 

 running in the substance of the lateral lines (fig. 28), The pro- 

 cesses can be traced to the three-quarter point of the body length. 

 The canaliculi are visible throughout the entire length of the 

 processes and acquire thickened walls as they run backward. 

 Behind the level at which the processes can be recognized, fine 

 ducts are to be seen in the lateral lines which doubtless open into 

 the canaliculi. These ducts can be recognized as far back as the 

 level of the anus.' 



Ahmentary canal. The oesophagus (fig. 17) is simple and 

 club-shaped. Its walls are darkly pigmented behind the nerve 

 ring. There is no short anterior segment divided off by a trans- 

 verse diaphragm (pharynx of Dujardin) as in Heterakis vesicularis. 

 There is no oesophageal bulb. 



This species is placed temporarily in the 'genus' Heterakis 

 pending a thorough revision and division of the group. It does 

 not belong to the genus as defined by Dujardin, since (r) it is 

 devoid of lips and of a ' pharynx,' (2) it has no oesophageal bulb, 

 (3) the spicules are equal, (4) the caudal papillae of the male are 



^ The form of this gland is of interest in connection with the evolution of the 

 excretory organs of Nematodes. See {agerskiold, Zoo!. Jahrbb. Anat., Bd, vii, 

 p. 449, and the present writer, Q, J, M.'S., vol. L, p. 141. 



