366 ^- -S". NICKERSON. [Vol. XVII. 



male phase the chamber functions as a seminal vesicle and 

 the efferent duct as a ductus ejaculatorius. Lying below and 

 in front of the brain commissure, and partly surrounding the 

 median sexual chamber and its ducts, is a mass of large granular 

 cells (PI. XXXII, Fig. 4 ; PI. XXXIII, Figs. 20-24), which 

 undoubtedly function as glands. The facts observed indicate 

 that during times of female functional activity these cells secrete 

 a substance which forms a covering for the embryos in early 

 stages of their development and attaches them to the parent. 

 PI. XXXIII, Fig. 23, shows the unpaired portion of the 

 oviduct, and at its mouth an early blastula surrounded by a 

 delicate membrane which, on the side toward the parent, is con- 

 tinued out into a stalk or pedicel. This stalk occupies the 

 lumen of the terminal portion of the duct. There seems to be 

 no reason for doubt that this structure owes its origin to the 

 large gland cells described, and that these cells pour out their 

 secretion around the egg as it passes them on its way from the 

 ovary to the exterior. Prouho ('91) has described for L. anne- 

 lidicola under the name of shell gland {glande de la coque) 

 a group of similar cells, to which, as the name implies, he attrib- 

 uted the formation of a protective membrane around the 

 developing egg. The facts observed give no suggestion as to 

 what the function of these glands may be when the animal is 

 functionally male. 



The existence of hermaphroditism has long been suspected 

 in the genus Loxosoma, but heretofore no one has proved this 

 supposition correct. Harmer ('85) expressed a belief that both 

 male and female sexual products arise in the same gonad at 

 different times, the male being formed before the female. My 

 observations establish the fact of hermaphroditism, but show 

 that, contrary to Harmer's view, in L. Davenporti the female 

 sexual products arise before the male. It is possible, however, 

 that several periods of sexual activity, alternately male and 

 female, may occur in the same animal, in which case there 

 would be no conflict between Harmer's view and my obser- 

 vations. The fact that we worked upon different species may 

 also afford a possible explanation of the differences in our 

 conclusions. Prouho ('91) observed that in L. annelidicola the 



