204 Prof. J. C. Schiodte on the Classification 



The spermathecse likewise assume the form of dilatations of 

 the anterior free extremity of the vagina. Their shapes are very 

 various, sometimes that of a conic protuberance {Crj/ptohypnus 

 quadripustulatus, Diacanthus tessellatus and bipustulatus) , some- 

 times that of a tolerably long tube [Agriotes aterrimus), or of a 

 short bag terminating in a tubiform continuation {Melanotus 

 castanipes, Limonius cylivdricv,s), or of two [Diacanthus aneus) 

 or three (D.pectinicornis) short thick, branches; in D. sjalandicus 

 they are represented by five long tubes situated inside the vagina ; 

 in Ampedus balteatus there are two long club-shaped tubes pro- 

 ceeding from the top of the vagina, and five others starting from 

 the duct of the accessory gland. This last case effects a transi- 

 tion to those cases where the tubes of the spermatheca do not 

 open immediately into the vagina, but into its upper tubiform 

 part, into the end of which the accessory gland opens, and which 

 therefore may be looked upon as the duct of the latter. In 

 Cardiophorus rvficollis this conduit is thin, towards the end 

 wound and twisted, and bears on one side more than sixty short 

 spermathecal tubes*. In Agriotes marginatus this duct carries 

 close before its dilated end a long spermathecal tube, from 

 which, again, a lateral appendix branches off towards its extre- 

 mity. In Agriotes obscurus, lineatus^ and sputator the duct is of 

 extraordinary length, and near the base twisted in a dcmble 

 spiral, one outside the other; beyond this part, a very long 

 twisted spermatheca separates itself from it, and beyond this, 

 again, the duct carries a varying number of shorter club-shaped 

 tubes along its sides ; and, besides this, there is in Agriotes ob- 

 scurus a short cylindrical tube, and in A. lineatus a somewhat 

 larger deeply bifid bag, placed at the point of junction between 

 the vagina and the duct of the accessory gland. In Throscus, 

 finally, we find two small round spermathecse, of which the 

 ducts unite into a short common duct inserted near the base of 

 the duct of the accessory gland ; in their natural position they 

 are placed upon the vagina like a pair of spectacles. 



The accessory gland of the spermatheca in Elaterini is large 



* The structure in Cardiophorus asellus is very similar ; and there can 

 consequently be no doubt that Stein (Anat. u. Physiol, d. Ins tab. 5. fig. 1) 

 has represented the sexual organs of this or an allied species of Cardio- 

 phorus — not, as he thinks, of Athous hirtus {niger). To his account of the 

 duct of the accessory gland, however, it should be added that the serrated 

 form he represents is caused by the great number of lateral tubes (nearly 

 forty), which do not join the duct at right angles, but lie along it slanting 

 forwards. In Stein's drawing are also wanting the two elongated triangular 

 plates of chitine (united at their ends) which are situated over the larger 

 plates represented by him in the vagina ; and, besides, the seminal groove is 

 omitted, which here, as is usually the case, extends from the stem of the 

 lateral follicle to the base of the common oviduct. 



