1914} Anatomy of Epidiaspis Piricola. 51 
REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM. 
The female reproductive system of Epidiaspis (Plate XIV, 
Figs. 14 and 15), is found to be characteristic of the usual 
insect type, consisting of a pair of ovaries joined to the vagina 
to form a figure much the shape of a capital Y. The vagina 
is a rather long, thick duct, lined with prominent gland cells 
with prominent nuclei, which undoubtedly secrete a tough, 
shell-like material during the passing of the eggs. The vagina 
opens on the ventral surface opposite the anal aperture. At 
the junction of the two branches of the vagina is found the 
minute opening of the seminal receptacle (Plate XIV, Fig. 
14-b). This sperm sac is a long blind tube (Plate XIV, Fig. 
16), and at the time observations were made was filled with 
an exceedingly large quantity of sperm cells, which could often 
be seen in the semi-cleared specimens under the microscope. 
From the branches of the ovaries, masses of ovariole buds 
are given off, varying in size from a mere evagination of the 
egg tube to that in which the eggs are well developed (Plate 
XIV, Fig. 14-a). Each of these ovarioles is capable of pro- 
ducing a single egg, which, upon reaching maturity, passes 
down the slender connective into the vagina (Plate XIV, 
Fig. 15-c), and thence to the exterior. It is quite evident 
that all of these buds do not develop, and I have noted that 
the female apparently stops feeding to any great extent after 
egg laying begins. Consequently after a certain number of 
eggs have been deposited, she probably does not possess the 
vitality to bring all the others to maturity. . 
CIRCUMGENITAL GLANDS, OR SPINNERETS. 
The study of the grouped glands or spinnerets (Plate XIV, 
Fig. 17 to 21), and their histology and function, offered an 
especial opportunity for some needed observations, and proved 
to be very interesting. The histology and actual function 
of these spinnerets have been subjects of much conjecture, 
although little real work seems to have been done on them. 
The reason for this is undoubtedly the fact that the glands 
(Plate XIV, Fig. 17-a) are functional for a very short period 
of time, and unless sections are made at this particular time, 
no glands can be found in connection with the grouped orifices. 
Sections made before the egg-laying period begins, cutting 
