568 H. p. KJERSCHOW AGERSBORG 



The prostate portion of the oviduct is not very glandular. 

 The wall of the uterus consists mainly of fibrous and of some 

 muscular tissue. Its lining consists of glandular epithelium 

 (PI. 37, fig. SO, Ms, Gl). 



(4) V i s p e r m a 1 1 h e c a . 



The ovispermatotheca has a most unique internal structure 

 (PI. 37, fig. 82). Its outer part consists of a loose vascular con- 

 nective tissue (L) and a muscular layer of circa two cells in 

 depth. Its middle part is a connective-tissue layer (S'm) 

 upon which rests a papillated epithelial layer. The muscle- 

 cells of the muscle-layer show the interesting structure already 

 described. The epithelium retains Delafield's haematoxylin 

 stain very well. The papillated epithelium consists of cells 

 that are free (Ejpi) at their two-thirds distal portion, abutting 

 (PL 87, fig. 74, Spt) into the cavity as finger-like processes 

 (PI. 87, fig. 82, Spt). The larger of these seem to be supported 

 by the underlying basement layer {Sm, Bm). In the cytoplasm 

 there is a distinct micromeric network {Mic). The nucleus is 

 situated at the base in the smaller cells, and midway between 

 the base and the free end in the larger cells. The cells of the 

 larger papillae are wider at their free or distal portion, so that 

 they actually approach each other. The spermatotheca 

 contains both semen and ova, and, since in some cases this 

 organ is filled with eggs, I have called it ovispermatotheca. 



Mazzarelli (1891 a) found that the structure of the spermato- 

 theca was plical. He says : ' Indeed the entire aspect of the 

 wall of this presents a great number of longitudinal folds 

 (or plicae) highly developed and disposed in such a manner 

 as to constitute a series of correlated passages or channels 

 (rooms) (' concameragioni '), on the periphery of the lumen 

 of the ampulla which are commonly engorged with the sperm.' 



Eliot and Evans (1908 : 287) write : ' The walls of the 

 spermatotheca in Doridoides gar diner i are thick and 

 produce a secretion. In some specimens small clumps of 

 spermatozoa are imbedded in this secretion. In others all the 

 spermatozoa form a central mass in the main cavity of the 



