new African Earthworm. 461 



presence of a hard mass of non-cellular substance in it. In 

 Poh/toreutus kenyaensis, however, the same author describes * 

 the acorn-shaped spermatophores as containing a solid mass 

 of non-staining granular substance, in which are embedded 

 numerous " sperm- ropes/' or bundles of spermatozoa (which 

 have themselves been called "spermatophores" in other 

 species). The nature of the solid matrix, the author con- 

 siders, is "probably identical with that of the substance 

 forming the walls of the spermatopliore," and he arrives at 

 the conclusion that this substance is formed by the breaking- 

 down of cells which wander away from the lining of the 

 spermathecal sac. 



In Pherethna the upper and larger end of the pear-shaped 

 spermatopliore is said f to be filled with a granular mass, 

 probably composed of broken-down cells, and the sperm 

 contained in the narrower portion is said to be separated 

 from it by a delicate membrane. In attempting to interpret 

 the functions of the granular mass, the author says that its 

 " position ... at the apex of the spermatopliore suggests 

 that it may be of mechanical assistance in expelling the 

 sperm . . . Furthermore, if the case be watertight, the 

 presence of this possibly largely fluid mass may be advan- 

 tageous to the spermatozoa . . . Its function may be to keep 

 the sperm moist and active." In any case, it seems clear, as 

 the author says, that the granular substance plays some 

 important part in the processes leading to fertilization. 



The lower, trumpet-shaped tube of the spermatopliore is 

 in intimate connection with the epithelial lining of the duct 

 of the spermatheca, and there seems to be no reasonable 

 doubt that it is formed by the activity of this epithelium, 

 and not out of material introduced from another worm. In 

 D. austeni% this portion of the spermatopliore is described 

 as having a structureless inner layer, and an outer layer 

 " composed of a parallel series of oblong pieces closely 

 adpressed," which are supposed to correspond to the indi- 

 vidual cells of the epithelium. " When the spermatopliore 

 is viewed from the outside, these brink-like constituents 

 form a kind of mosaic upon its surface/' In D. jaculatrix 

 this mosaic-like appearance is also seen, but the " brick-like 

 constituents" in this case appear granular, and they are, 

 I believe, of a different nature. In sections through the 

 duet of the spermatheca, the trumpet-like tube is seen to 



* P. Z. S. 1902, ii. p. 200. 



t Beddard, P. Z. S. 1911, p. 419. 



\ P. Z. S. 1901, ii. p. 706. 



