314 On AnnelUa Polyclta'ta from the Kortli Sea cdr. 



radiata, are shed singly and not in masses, and each is en- 

 cased in a tliick semitrauspavent horny or chitinous case. 

 The cases, when viewed under high power, have a pitted 

 appearance, wliich is possildy due to tlie presence of small 

 apertures (PL XVL tig. 1). The egg-contents are yellow 

 and heterogeneous in appearance, and the disposition of the 

 ova is better seen in the posterior region, where the body- 

 walls are much thinner, and consequently more transparent. 

 Prom the thirty-sixth segment backward they are densely 

 massed together and impart a yellowish hue to the posterior 

 region, which is slightly stouter than the anterior. Along 

 the dorsal surface in many specimens the ova are arranged 

 in three dense lines, the middle occupying the median dor.><al 

 line and the laterals taking up position immediately above 

 the dors.il portion of the feet; but toward the tip of the 

 tail this formation is lost. When the ventral surface is 

 examined the ova are found to be much more scattered, but 

 in the caudal region they are more compactly packed 

 together. At the bases of the feet, from the thirty-fourth 

 or thirtv-fifth backward, on the ventral surface the segmental 

 openings are increased in size and become cup-shaped in 

 appearance. 'J'he openings are large and conspicuous, and a 

 needle can be inserted into them quite easily ; but near the 

 extreme posterior end of the body the openings diminish in 

 size and are only seen with difficulty. When the body is 

 slio-hllv stroked from before backwards and pressed in the 

 middle region the ova burst forth in abundance from these 

 aforesaid openings. As this condition of the segmental 

 openings only occurs in mature specimens, and as the ova 

 when the body is pressed burst from these openings, one 

 must conclude that it is by their meana that the ova are 

 shed into the exterior world. Moreover, in no instance were 

 the body-walls found to be ruptured, although several writers 

 are inclined to think this occurs when the ova are being 

 shed. 



No internal nor external parasites were found. Along 

 with many of the examples of this species were dredged 

 several examples of Sagitta. 



Bibliography. 



EvLEKSTEiN. 1914. '' Ueber Onupliideu der Xordsee." Wissenschaft- 

 liche Meeresunteisuchungen Ijerau.-gt'gebeii von dev Koiiinii.ssiun 

 zuv uisseiischaftliehen Lintersuchuiigder deiUsclieu Mcere iu Kiel 

 imd dor Uiulogisclit'U Anstalt aiU lielgolaud. 



