44 



THE CLASS OF INSECTS. 



of a duct, the ductus ejaculatorius, which opens into the external 

 intromittent organ. This duct extends backwards, connecting 

 with the vesiculce seminales, which lead by 

 the vasa differentia to the testes (Fig. 53). 

 The latter are usually rounded glandular 

 bodies, sometimes, as in Melolontha and 

 Lucanus, numbering six on a side. These 

 organs lie in the abdominal cavity, usually 

 above and on each side of the alimentary 

 canal. 



The sperm, or fertilizing fluid, contains 

 very active 

 spermatic par- 

 ticles which 

 are developed 

 in large cells 

 in the testes, 

 Fig. 53. where they are 



united into bundles of various 

 forms. 



In the female, the internal re- 

 productive organs (Fig. 54) are 

 more simple than those of the 

 other sex. The external open- 

 ing of the female is situated at 

 the end of the oviduct, that 

 leads by two tubes to the ovary, 

 which consists of two or more Fig. 54. 



tubes (in the Queen Bee one hundred and sixty to one hundred 

 and eighty) in which the ova are developed. On the upper side 



FIG. 53. Male organs of Athalia centifolice. h, the penis, or external portion, 

 in which the ductus ejaculatoriiis (/) terminates, which extends backwards, and is 

 connected with the vesiculce seminales (<?), and vasa differentia (<7) Avhich are con- 

 nected with the epididijmis (6), and the testes (a}, i and I, two pairs of homy plates, 

 surrounded by a horny ring (k). i, horny prehensile hooks attached to k. m, two 

 elongated muscular parts inclosing the penis (70. From Newport. 



FIG. 54. Female organs of generation of Athalia centifolice. a, 6, c,the eighteen 

 ovarial tubes originating from each of the two oviducts (e), and containing the im- 

 mature eggs;/, the spcrmatheca; g, poison-sac, the poison being secreted in the 

 secretory vessels h. The poison flows through the oviduct into the sting and thence 

 into the wound made by the sting. 10, the terminal ganglia of the nervous cord. 

 From Newport. 



