204 PROF. HUXLEY ON THE AGAMIC REPRODUCTION 



layer of external transvei-se, and internal longitudinal, striated muscles. After entering 

 the sixth abdominal somite, it divides into two branches — the oviducts (DD), whose walls 

 exhibit the same muscularity, but are less thick. Both vagina and oviducts are lined by 

 a well-developed epithelium. 



The oviducts divide into four ovarian cseca, whose delicate structureless wall is un- 

 provided with muscles, and lined by a columnar epitheliiun. Each caecum is ordinarily 

 divided by constrictions into six chambers. Of these I found the posterior (that nearest 

 the vulva) (E) always empty, and of nearly the same length, though of a much smaller 

 diameter than that which precedes it, or the fifth from the apex of the ovarium. This 

 fifth chamber (F) always contaiaed a fully formed ovnm, provided with a chorion and 

 an opake coarsely granular yelk. 



The foiu'th chamber (G) is smaller than the fifth ; it contains a coarsely granular vitelline 

 mass in which no germinal vesicle can be perceived, and which ordinarily has no invest- 

 ing membrane. 



The tliird chamber (H) is still smaller ; and its contents are usually only slightly gra- 

 nular, so that the germinal vesicle and spot of the ovum in this chamber are beautifully 

 distinct (fig. 2). 



The second chamber (I) is the smallest of all ; the germinal vesicle and spot of its rudi- 

 mentary ovum can be easUy seen ; and but very few fine granules are deposited in the 

 substance which will eventually form the yelk. 



A clear cord-like mass (g'), commonly divided longitudinally, so as to appear double, 

 traverses this chamber, and can be traced into the nett. 



The apical chamber (K) is as large as the tliird, but is longer transversely than longitudi- 

 nally, whUe the reverse is the case with the third chamber. Its outer wall is formed by 

 a continuation of the same structureless membrane as that which constitutes the rest of 

 the cajcum. The epithelium {p), which is particularly thick in the upper part of the second 

 chamber, especially at the neck or constriction between the first and second, is suddenly 

 attenuated as it spreads on the inner face of the wall of this chamber, and becomes very 

 thin from the flattening of its cells. From having the characters of a cylinder-, it takes 

 those of a pavement-epithelium. 



It is at first extremely difficult to understand the nature of the contents of the apical 

 chamber. AU its anterior part appears to be filled with about a dozen closely appressed 

 bodies (i), which, if examined without due attention, or under alow power only, may easUy 

 be confounded with ova. Each of these bodies has a sort of wedge shape, such as would 

 result from the compression of rounded masses hi a spherical envelope which they nearly 

 fin. Its apex is turned inwards ; its base outwards. Each consists of a thick transpa- 

 rent outer coat closely investing a denser and well-defined membranous sac. The latter 

 contains a clear substance, in which many irregular granules are imbedded. The lines of 

 separation between the appressed sides of these bodies are weU seen, either in a sectional 

 or a superficial view. In the latter case, they appear as polygonal meshes; in the 

 former, as lines separating the bodies from one another, and bounding their curved bases 

 on the side of the epithelium. On tracing the lines of separation towards the central 

 interval between the ends of these bodies, they become lost, and a mere clear, homogeneous 



