832 MR. BEDDARD ON NEW-ZEALAND EARTHWOUMS. [Nov. 3, 



result of a coagulation by the hardening reagent of a fluid or semi- 

 fluid substance; in this were imbedded a vast number of spherical 

 concretions. The presence of these latter evidently suggests that the 

 copulatory pouch itself may act as an excretory organ ; and in view 

 of the supposed homologies between the copulatory pouch and the 

 nephridia, this fact is of some importance. 



I carefully searched for concretions in the copulatory pouches of 

 the other species, but did not succeed in finding any. 



Vejdovsky, in his recently published ' System und Morpliologie 

 der Oligochaeten,' has figured crystals and one concretionary body in 

 the copulatory pouch of Sttjlaria^, but I am unacquainted with any 

 otlier facts comparable to those which have just been stated. 



EXPLANATION OF PLATES. 



Plate LII. 



Fig. L Transverse section tlirough oesophageal region of Acanthodrilus dis- 

 dmilis. ces, CEsophagus; ffl, calcii'erous glands; d.v, dorsal vessel; 

 v.v, ventral vessel ; n, nerve-cord. 



2. CEsophagus and ealciferous glands (ffl, gV) of A. dissimilis. 



3. ffisophagus and ealciferous glands (ffl) of A. viultiporus. 



4. Dorsal nephridiuni of A. novm zelandice. 



5. Ventral nephridium of A. novce zelandifs. 



6. Epithelium of copulatory pouch of A. dissimilis. a, Glandular cells. 



7. Superficial view of same epithelium. 



8. Epithelium of copulatory pouch of immature individual of same species. 



9. Glandular body (ffl) attached to vas deferens (v.d.) oi A. dissimilis. 



Plate LIII. 



Fig. 1. Typhlosole (transverse section) of .<4. '/»m/;'«2'wms. 



2. Prostates (pr) and modified mesenteries (/«) oi A. multiporus. 



3. Copidatory pouches (cp) and diverticula (c.p') of A. novm zelandias. 



n, nephridia. 



4. Anterior end oi body ol A. mult ip)orus. e, " Brain ; " tZ.y, dorsal vessel ; 



«, nerve-cord; ffl, salivary gland ; d, its duct; ph, pharynx. 



5. Opening of ducts of salivary glands (o) within buccal cavity. 



6. Portion of intestine, and paired dorsal vess^ of A. novcB zelandim. 



7. Transverse section of copulatory pouch of A. dissimilis. 



8. Copulatory pouch of A. novce zelcmdice. 



9. Copulatory pouch of A. dissimilis. 



10. Portion of diverticulum of copulatory pouch of A. dissimilis in trans- 



verse section, slightly magnified to show the bundles of spermatozoa 

 (ffp) imbedded in granular substance. 



11. Transverse section of divertievdum of same species, less magnified. The 



bundles of spermatozoa which have taken up the staining fluid more 

 than the surrounding tissue, are indicated as black masses. 



PI. iv. fig. 11. 



