Genital Apparatus of the Orthoptera. 451 



I shall follow in tins note the order of progressive complica- 

 tion of the organs studied. 



Male Blattidas exhibit no internal appendix to the vasa 

 deferentia or to the ejecting canal ; this accords with the primi- 

 tive characters of these insects. 



In the Forficulidge or Labidurge I can confirm the state- 

 ments of Meinert, accepted by Palmen, namely, that there is 

 but one vesicula seminalis, that it is dependent on the vasa 

 deferentia, that these are continued beyond and maintain a 

 semblance of equal function ; but I regard the organ which 

 Meinert has named the nodiform gland as being nothing more 

 than an apparatus for propelling the semen. 



The family Acrididse comes next : it forms a very special 

 group, in which the series of modifications are but slightly 

 marked in the series of genera. There is to be found between 

 the two vasa deferentia a dozen tubulous casca, drawn out, 

 more or less sinuous, and passing from the ejaculatory canal 

 in which they are inserted as far as the middle of the height 

 of the testicles ; they are arranged in two symmetrical masses, 

 braced together and fitting the ventral face of the rectum. 

 One pair only contains spermatozooids, the others contain a 

 secretion and are (to be regarded as) glands. From the 

 anatomical standpoint the vesicular seminales are whiter, more 

 sinuous, more twisted, and gathered into knots at their free 

 extremity. 



The Gryllidas exhibit three kinds of appendices to the 

 ejaculatory canal : — 



1. Tubular caeca, to the number of a hundred on either 

 side, in which spermatozooids are never seen, but only a secre- 

 tion, which coagulates under the influence of mounting media 

 and takes on the appearance of a very regular reticulum over 

 a homogeneous mass, which often occludes a blackish powder 

 consisting of crystals. 



2. A large reniform vesicula seminalis, situate below the 

 before-mentioned tubes, and in which the spermatozooids are 

 placed. 



3. A pair of prostatic glands on either side of the ejaculatory 

 canal. In the group Gryllotalpidae there are two vesicula? 

 seminales in place of one : these are the organs which some 

 describe under the name of appendicular glands, and which 

 may be seen crammed with spermatozooids a little before the 

 rutting time. 



The Locustidas exhibit also three kinds of appendices to 

 the ejaculatory canal : on the anterior part of the latter may 

 be distinguished a large trunk which bifurcates ; each of the 

 two branches gives off almost immediately two branches, 



