45 



that it consists of globular blind sacs, located here and 

 there in the joint, and connected by fine tubes, termi- 

 nating finally in the vagina. 



" The most characteristic feature in this worm is its 

 eggs, the number of which may be counted by thou- 

 sands in each ripe joint. They are very large, mea- 

 suring 0-054 mil. in diameter, and, under a low power 

 of the microscope, appear as transparent balls, with a 

 yellow dot in them. With a higher power, we easily 

 distinguish three distinct egg-shells. The outside 

 shell is translucent, elastic, cracking in sharp angles 

 under pressure, and only 0-0007 mil. thick ; this shell 

 is folded under application of glycerine. The second 

 shell is membranaceous and irregularly wrinkled, thin- 

 ner than the first, and immediately attached to it. 

 This second shell showing through the first, gives to 

 the whole surface of the egg a wrinkled appearance, 

 though the first shell is in reality entirely smooth. 

 The large cavity, which is formed by these two outside 

 shells, contains a fluid (which has an albuminous ap- 

 pearance, and turns milk-white on contact with water) 

 in which swims the small globular embryo (measuring 

 only 0-024 mil.) enclosed in a third shell, closely at- 

 tached to it, but of considerable thickness (0-001 mil.). 

 We cannot state with certainty that there are three 

 pairs of spines to this embryo : if there are any, they 

 must be very small." 



The embryo of this species is as yet unknown ; but 

 Dr. Weinland suggests the possibility of the child 

 having swallowed a fly, in which the embryos of this 

 entozoon were contained ; basing his suggestion upon 



