ANATOMY OF THE EARTHWORM. Vy 
minute granules. It has been suggested that the crystalline 
body contained in the anterior cesophageal pouch, described 
in the last number of this Journal, supplies a certain amount 
of lime to assist in the formation of the egg-capsule; but this 
view has not the least foundation in facts—as there does not 
appear to be any communication between the cesophageal 
pouches and the exterior, excepting possibly through the 
intestinal canal. The capsuli-genous glands (e), the ciliated 
tubes (a), the efferent male ducts (c), the oviduct (d), and the 
spermatic reservoirs (4), are seen in Pl. II} fig. 1. 
Coition and Parturition — Almost as little is known, as far 
as regards the earthworm, of the former of these processes as 
of the latter. An exchange of zoosperms is effected by the 
mutual juxtaposition of the pores of the spermatic reservoirs 
and those of the efferent ducts. How the passage of the 
seminal fluid takes place. is not exactly understood. Por- 
tions of the cuticle everted in the form of a temporary copula- 
tory organ have been found attached to the apertures of the 
vasa deferentia in large worms; but these are by no means 
persistent. Again, with regard to the manner of the formation 
of the egg-capsule, we are in total ignorance, though, judging 
from analogy, we may conceive it to be formed on the exterior 
surface of the worm, its body serving as a mould. Whilst 
gradually drawing itself through the so-formed sac, ova and 
zoosperms are deposited, and the capsule is in some way 
closed. The subject, however, is one which requires much 
investigation, attended as it is with so many and almost in- 
surmouutable difficulties. 
Homologies of the Reproductive Organs.—I wish now briefly 
to consider the homological relations of the earthworm, repre- 
senting the Oligocheta Terricola, and the Oligocheta Limi- 
cola, whose structure and anatomy have been so ably and 
charmingly investigated by Claparéde,* and D’Udekem. In 
the genera Tubifex, Euaxes, Stylodrilus, Pachydrilus, &c., 
these authors have found that the ciliated canals, of which (as 
in the earthworm) a pair exists in each segment, are deficient 
in certain rings of the body apparently, and these segments 
are those which contain the spermatic reservoirs, the vasa 
deferentia, and the oviducts, and generally the first five or six 
anterior segments. The following table, taken from M. 
Claparéde’s ‘Récherches Anatomiques sur les Oligochétes,’ 
p- 62, illustrates this: s means ordinary segment organ, 7 
sperm reservoirs, o oviducts, and ¢ efferent canals. 
* ¢Récherches sur les Oligochetes,’ 1862. Geneva. 
: * »  Annelides, &.,’? 1861. Geneva. 
