new African Earthworm. 403 



sperm (fig. 6, Sp.). This lumen is, I think, open at its lower 

 extremity. The yellow mutter and sperm were present in 

 the spermatheca of which serial sections were cut, although 

 no upper capsule was found in the middle spermathecal sac. 

 The outer extremity of the trumpet- like tuhe was also blocked 

 by a mass of homogeneous substance, having much the 

 appearance of yolk. This substance differs somewhat, 

 however, from that of the ma*s contained in the upper 

 capsule, when this is present, for the latter is much more 

 granular. 



In a spermatophore both parts of which, i. e., both the 

 trumpet-like tube and the upper capsule, were fully formed 

 and in contact, the yellow stratified matter within the tube 

 was found by the section method to he continuous with the 

 wall of the upper capsule, but stained much less deeply. 

 The sperm-containing lumen in this yellow matter was also 

 in communication with the cavity of the capsule, the lower 

 part of which also contained a small quantity of sperm, 

 clinging to its walls. 



It will probably be impossible to arrive at any definite 

 conclusions regarding the history and ultimate fate of the 

 " spermatophores" in these worms, until some good observer 

 furnishes us with an account of their breeding-habits. 

 Viewed from a structural standpoint, the spermatophores, if 

 such they are, are most interesting and puzzling. It is very 

 difficult to understand what can be the advantage of 

 enclosing the sperm in such an elaborately-formed case, and 

 not less so to trace the probable manner of its formation. 



The only point which appears to me to be now settled 

 almost with certainty, is that the lower, trumpet-like tube 

 of the spermatophore is actually secreted, and not merely 

 moulded, by the epithelium of the spermathecal duct, 

 lieddard has already reached the conclusion that in D. austeni 

 it is moulded at least, if not really secreted, by this duct, 

 but with the reservation that the material might have been 

 derived from the spermidueal glands of another worm. The 

 evidence, in the present case, of the protoplasmic processes 

 of the cells of the duct, extending as they do into the edges 

 of the secreted matter, seems to me to place this question, 

 with regard to D.jaculatrix at least, almost beyond doubt. 



The origin of the other parts of the spermatophore, and 

 the order of formation of all the parts, are, however, still 

 very doubtful. From the glandular nature of the cells lining 

 both divisions of the spermathecal sac, it would seem almost 

 certain that they must play some part in the formation 

 of the apparatus. I am inclined to believe that thev are 



