830 MR. F. E. BEDDARD ON [NoV. 3, 



of this epithelium is displayed in Plate LII. fig. 6. The columnar 

 cells are still present and of the same general appearance, hut between 

 them are a nund)er of large, oval, granular cells (a), which are con- 

 siderably shorter and do not reach the surface ; towards the external 

 aperture of the pouch the granular cells disappear, and the epithe- 

 lium gradually passes into the outer epidermis without any distinct 

 break. 



These changes in the structure of the copulatory pouch are 

 accompanied by changes in the structure of its diverticula Before 

 describing these, I should mention that the copulatory pouches were 

 invariably empty of spermatozoa ; in no case did I find the least 

 traces of spermatozoa in the copulatory pouch itself; on the other 

 hand, the diverticula were as invariably full of spermatozoa com- 

 pacted together in a way that will now be described. 



In the first-mentioned individual, in which the copulatory pouches 

 present the moie simple structure, the accessory pouches are also 

 comparatively simple in their structure. The epithelium consists of 

 tail columnar nucleated cells, quite similar to those which form the 

 inner lining of the copulatory pouch ; the epithelial layer is* thrown 

 into folds, and in the distal portion of the chamber these folds meet 

 and divide the cavity into a number of smaller cavities ; of the copu- 

 latory pouch itself, on the other hand, the cavity is never thus sub- 

 divided. Here and there the epithelial cells are replaced by largish 

 oval spaces, apparently filled with a fluid substance, and which are 

 probably due to the degeneration of cells ; in many of these were 

 imbedded packets of spermatozoa arranged in longitudinal bundles 

 and closely cemented together. 



In the more mature individual the structure of the diverticula 

 was almost completely lost : it appeared to form a completely solid 

 mass, without any trace of a lumen or only just the faintest trace 

 near to its external aperture. The interior of the pouch consists of 

 massesof granular matter of various sizes and shapes (see Plate LIII. 

 figs. 10 and 11), in which were imbedded bundles of spermatozoa ; 

 trabeculae of a tissue, which may represent the degenerated epithe- 

 lium, form a complete network, and sei)arate off from each other 

 the granular masses containing the spermatozoa. 



This condition is obviously brought about by a still further activity 

 of the epithelium of the diverticula, of which there were indications 

 in the first stage. 



It appears to me therefore that in this species the copulatory 

 pouch itself has little or no share in the phenomena of reproduction ; 

 the spermatozoa, perhaps cemented together in bundles by the secre- 

 tion of the prostate glands, are transferred direct to the diverticula 

 of the copulatory pouches, where they undergo further change, 

 which perhaps results in the formation of a spermatophore ; I have 

 not, however, succeeded in finding any spermatophores. 



The main fact to which I wish to call attention, is that the diver' 

 ticula of the copulatory pouch, and not the pouch itself, have the 

 chief share in the process of fecundation. 



In A. nova zelandice I am not able to give any details of the 



