16 Mr. F. E. Beddard on the 
contents of which were driven hither and thither by peristaltic 
waves of contraction ; these movements were generally though 
not always to be seen ; ; they appeared to be sometimes 
increased by warming theslide. I did not observe any move- 
ment of the cilia on the under surface of the prostomium. 
The capsules were of various sizes, some being quite twice 
as large as others; but although there was a ‘difference of 
size there was no ascertainable difference in shape between 
the larger and smaller capsules, nor, in fact, any difference of 
‘structure correlated with the difference of size. The capsules 
bore not a little resemblance when examined with a lens to 
the “fruit”? of Chara, on account of their orange colour; this 
colour is due to the innumerable or ange oil-drops of the con- 
tained worms. Occasionally the worms within the capsules 
appeared of a faint pinkish colour; this coloration recalls 
Prof. Lankester’s * observations upon the blood of 4¥olosoma. 
He remarks that the blood in the vessels is of a pinkish 
colour ; the pink colour which I observed was not limited to 
the blood-vessels, but pervaded the body generally; it is, I 
think, due to a-diffusion of the integumental pigment liberated 
through the disintegration of some of the epidermic oil- 
elobules, The pink colour was notably increased by pressing 
upon the cover-glass with sufficient energy to injure the 
‘Integument and rupture the vesicles containing the pigment. 
The capsules consist (see figs. 1 & 2) of a thin layer, which 
varies in thickness in different individuals ; it is perfectly 
colourless and transparent; it had no tinge of yellow like the 
cocoons of Oligocheta in general. When the capsule was 
ruptured by forcibly pressing upon the cover-glass with a 
needle the contents were pressed out, leaving the cyst intact. 
The cyst was then seen to be a complete hollow thin-walled 
sphere ; the elasticity of the walls was shown by the fact that 
if, during the process of rupturing, the cyst-walls were pressed 
inwards at any point, they recovered their form immediately 
that the pressure was removed. 
The worm always completely filled the cyst, its epidermis 
being in close contact with the membrane. Occasionally I 
found empty cysts, which were split across as shown in the 
figure (fig. 2), to allow the egress of the worm. 
What is the nature of these cysts? Are they cocoons? 
It is difficult to answer this question quite positively. But 
before attempting to do so I may quote a later remark of Prof. 
Vejdovsky T upon the subject. In a general summary of our 
* “A Contribution to the Knowledge of the Lower Annelids,” Trans. 
Linn. Soe. vol. xxvi. p. 642. 
+ ‘ Entwicklungsgeschichtliche Untersuchungen,’ Heft i. p. 46. 
