806 



MR. r. E. BEDUAKU AND MISS FBDARB 



[June 20, 



genital papillae and spermathecse iu Ferichceta and the existence of 

 such a connection in Lumbricidse seems to show that physio- 

 logically the genital papillie of PencJueta are different from the 

 tubercula pubertatis of the Lumbricida;. 



Out of our examples only six had spermatlieca>, and in every one 

 of these individuals the arrangement of these was asymmetrical. 



rig. 1. 



I 



Sperniat.hecal segments of Pericheeta hiser talis. 

 SP., spermathecae ; N., nerve-cord. 



The following is a tabulated statement of the number and arrange- 

 n)eni of the organs in question : — 



Segment vi. Segment vii. 



Ex. 1 3 left. right. 4 left, right. 



Ex. 2 1 left, right. 1 left, 1 right. 



Ex. 3 3 left, 3 right. left, 1 right. 



Ex. 4 left, right. left, 1 right. 



Ex. 5 left, right. left, 1 right. 



Ex, « left. 2 right. 1 left, 1 right. 



Tn defining the species, then, ought one to regard the presence, 

 and if the presence, tlie irregularity, or on the other hand the ali- 

 ."ience, of spermathecae as a specific character ? Some variations in 

 structure among earthworms liave been already noticed : but there 

 is only one ease (perhaps two) which is so striking as that to which 



