88 Mr. F. E. Beddard on a 



first described by myself* in the genus Eudnlus. These 

 diverticula of the gut, Dr. Michaelsen supposes, as well as 

 the corresponding organs of the Enchytreidee, serve not to 

 pour any secretion into the gut, but to absorb digested food. 

 Thus their function would be different from that of the cal- 

 ciferous glands ; it is well known that these latter produce a 

 secretion consisting of crystals of carbonate of lime. The 

 difference in outward appearance between the paired cal- 

 ciferous glands and the un})aired ventral pouches of Eudnlus 

 and other Eudrilids is sufficiently striking to suggest a dif- 

 ferent function. The differences in histological structure do 

 not appear to me to be so great. But in a specimen of Eu- 

 drilus recently examined by me the median pouches con- 

 tained large crystals quite similar in appearance to the 

 crystals found in the paired glands. I did not test them 

 chemically. I am disposed to think that the two kinds of 

 glands really belong to the same category. It will be noticed 

 that they do not co-exist in the same segment. As to one 

 series of glands being paired, the other unpaired, I do not 

 attribute much importance to this. Neither does Dr. Michael- 

 sen ; for he places in the same category with the " Chylus- 

 taschen " of Eudnlus &c. the paired diverticula of Pyg- 

 mceodrilus. 



In the Enchytreidse, moreover, they may be paired or 

 unpaired. For this reason I do not lay much stress upon 

 the existence of these ventral median pouches in Gordio- 

 drilus as evidence of a close affinity with the Eudrilida^. In 

 a recent paper f I have described the branched and anasto- 

 mosing lumen of two Eudrilids, viz. Heliodnlus and Hyjierio- 

 drilus, to be at the periphery of the organ intracelluhir. 

 This appeared to me to be a necessary result of the folding 

 and refolding of the lining membrane. In Gordiodn'luSj 

 however, it is different ; I should rather compare the intra- 

 cellular part of the gland with the dorsal median diverticulum 

 of Buchholtzia \. If a glandular structure has an intra- 

 cellular system of ducts, one is tempted without more ado to 

 put it down as of nephridial nature. Avoiding any undue 

 prejudice of this kind there still remains the actual connexion 

 of the intracellular part of the gland-pouch in Gordiodrilus 

 with a nephridium. It may be, as was suggested to me, an 

 unimportant matter due to the absorption of the intervening 



* " Contributions to the Anatomy of Earthworms," Proc. Zool, Soc. 

 1887, p. 273. 



t " On the Structure of two new Genera of Earthworms, &c.," Quart. 

 Journ. Micr. Sci. vol. xxxii. p. 235. 



X Michaelsen, " Ueber Ohylusgefasssystem bei Enchytreeiden," Arch, 

 mikr. Anat. Bd. xxviii. p. 292. 



