ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY, MICKOSCOPY, ETC. 57 



consists of coiled fibrils which appear to take tlieir origin from the 

 small ganglionic cells of the cortex of the brain ; the constituents of 

 this differ in their chemical characters, for while the chief mass becomes 

 a bright brown with osmic acid, there is a part which stains more 

 deeply. 



Genital and Seg-mental Organs of Earthworm.* — Dr. G. Goehlich 

 has reinvestigated the much studied genital and segmental organs of 

 Lumhricus terrestris. The ovary is first described, and Claparede's 

 account of oogenesis confirmed. The condition of the organ, and the 

 absence of egg-laying in winter are noticed. The tube and the egg- 

 receptacle are then discussed in detail ; when eggs are to pass into the 

 oviduct the author believes that the muscles of the receptacle contract, 

 the ciliary activity of the funnel stops, that in the oviduct begins, and 

 the eggs are laid. The oviduct and the cocoon are then described without 

 new result of importance. In regard to the spermatheca, the author 

 notes that in the cold season, blood-corpuscles enter the reservoirs, as in 

 Aulastomum, and devour the spermatozoa. In discussing the copulation, 

 it is noted that the spermatophores never contain sperms belonging to 

 either of the copulators, but belonging to a third worm which has 

 formerly united with one of them. 



The testes, seminal vesicles, seminal funnels, and vasa deferentia 

 are next described, but again the results are almost wholly corroboratory. 

 The author believes that the expulsion of the spermatozoa is in part due 

 to the ciliary action of the vas deferens. A careful account, with 

 beautiful figures, is given of the various parts of the segmental organs. 

 Some new histological details are communicated in regard to the ciliated 

 funnels. 



Three new Species of Earthworms.f — Mr. F. E. Beddard describes 

 three new species of earthworms, and takes the opportunity of discussing 

 certain points in the morphology of the 01igocha3ta. 



Acanthodrilus annedens is a new species from New Zealand, which 

 combines to a certain degree the characters of A. multiporus and A. 

 novse-zealandise ; its vasa deferentia are remarkable for running deep 

 within the longitudinal muscular layer, and unite just before their 

 external orifice ; the atria open separately upon the seventeenth and 

 nineteenth segments. 



Deinodrilus Benhami g. et sp. u., also from New Zealand, is remark- 

 able for having, in each segment, six pairs of setse ; this arrangement is 

 intermediate between that seen in Lumhricus, where there are four pairs, 

 and the continuous row of numerous set^ found in Perichseta. It is 

 interesting that there are other characters in which Deinodrilus is inter- 

 mediate between Acanthodrilus and Perichseta. The atria have two 

 pairs of apertures as in the former, and the clitellum is, as in Perichseta, 

 found on segments 14-16. 



The dorsal vessel is a completely double tube ; there are six pairs 

 of lateral hearts. The nephridial system is like that of Acanthodrilus 

 multiporus. A. special coelomic sac incloses the dorsal blood-vessel. 



The third new species, Typhosus Gammii, is from Darjeeling ; as in 

 T. orientalis there is no prostomium, and the mouth is, therefore, 



* Zool. BL4tr. (Schneider), ii. (1888) pp. 133-67 (2 pls.)^ 

 t Quart. Journ. Micr. Sci., xxix. (1888) pp. 101-31 (2 pis.). 



