CONSTITUTION AND DEVELOPMENT OF TERMITES. 69 



analogy with the adhesive organs of the feet of many insects, 

 has already been explained. 



I pass to the generative organs. There are two ovaries 

 (PL 19, fig. 4), and each is pectinate, presenting five uni- 

 lateral ovarian tubes, which, when mature, occupy most of the 

 abdomen except the posterior segments. In the larva they 

 lie at a certain distance from each other, in about the fourth, 

 fifth, and sixth abdominal segments. 



The oviducts are long and straight, and join about the 

 hinder part of the seventh abdominal segment to form an 

 unpaired very short and wide canal (oviduct-uterus), which is 

 unlined by chitin. To this succeeds the still shorter and 

 wider vagina, which has a cuticular lining, and into it opens 

 a large spermatheca furnished with a similar delicate lining. 



This spermatheca lies on the dorsal side of the vagina, and 

 extends before and behind it ; it communicates with its dorsal 

 wall by a very short duct, also with a chitinous lining. Colle- 

 terial glands are absent. The vulva, like the vagina, is un- 

 paired, and belongs to the eighth sternite. 



Each ovarian tube possesses a very delicate investing mem- 

 brane, and each ovum is surrounded by a follicle which is 

 united to its fellows, when the ova have reached a certain size, 

 by short peduncles formed of small cells, which are a con- 

 tinuation of those composing the follicle itself. 



The ripe eggs are subelliptical, relatively large, with a very 

 large micropyle, which is developed at the anterior extremity 

 of the egg as it lies in the maternal body. 



The male has five testes on each side, or ten in all, each 

 consisting of a certain number of capsules, provided with 

 separate investing membranes (PI. 19, fig. 5). They lie in 

 the third, fourth, and fifth abdominal segments. This arrange- 

 ment in the male and the very similar disposition of the 

 ovaries in the female may possibly explain the apparent 

 absence of the ganglion in the fifth abdominal segment. When 

 mature the testes occupy a large part of the abdomen, and, 

 like the ovaries, are arranged unilaterally on the vasa de- 

 ferentia, which are paired, like the oviducts. Each vas is 



