218 MB. F, E. BBDDAED OS AN [Mar. 5, 



more like those of the Tubificidae, in which family these structures 

 are very general. lu the present species of Alma the spermato- 

 phores (text-fig. 59, B) are dotted about irregularly, but always in 

 front of the clitellar segments. The largest number that I observed 

 were possessed by the most fully mature individual, which had nine 

 of these bodies. They are roundish in outline and very flattened ; 

 naturally they are firmly adherent to the integument. These two 

 conditions must be very, favourable to an earthworm having to 

 force its way through the ground. It would be difiiculfc to detach 

 the spermatophores — more diflftcult one might imagine than in 

 many Lumbricidse, where the cases stand out far from the body. 

 The spermatophores have a thin wall, and the contents are 

 exceedingly striking on account of their chalk-white colour. On 

 a microscopical examination, the contour of the spermatophores is 

 seen to be not perfectly circular ; the margins are crenated, the 

 bulgings being due to the abundance of the sperm. 



As it is a dangerous proceeding to argue from negative facts, I 

 shall not do more than call attention to the fact that up to the 

 present Oriodrilus, justly placed by Michaelsen in the immediate 

 neighbourhood of Alma, is the only Geoscolecid in which these 

 structures have been hitherto made known. One matter, however, 

 which may be emphasised is that, on the whole, the spermato- 

 phores of Alma resemble those of the Lumbricidse ; they are at 

 least more like those of the Lumbricidse than of other Oligochseta 

 (save of course Griodrilus), though possessing distinctive features 

 of their own. Now there has been, since recent discovery, little 

 doubt that among the Lumbricidse the spermatophores are a 

 product of the tumid lips of the male pore. The suggestion was 

 due to Rosa, who added that in earthworms which copulate in 

 reversed positions the spermatophores are to be found behind the 

 male pores. As a matter of fact this position is by no means 

 constant ; and in the species of Alma which I describe here they 

 are both in front of and behind the male pores. As, however. 

 Alma has no spermathecse it is clear that the spermatophores can- 

 not be a product of the spermathecse as has been held ; there are, 

 however (see below), tubercula pubertatis which might by their 

 presence confirm the theory of origin for the spermatophores 

 propounded by Fraisse. The flatness and slightly protruding 

 spermatophores of this species are in accord with the very slightly 

 prominent male pores. It seems to be hardly a question now but 

 that the spermatophores are formed by the glandular cells which 

 accompany the external orifice of the sperm-duct. 



Some other Anatomical Features. — I was myself disposed at one 

 time to think that but one species of the genus Alma had been 

 properly defined, I am now of the opinion of Michaelsen, ex- 

 pressed in his latest work (9), that four forms can be recognized. 

 These species all come from different parts of Africa, with the 

 exception of A. emini and A. stuhlmanni, which are associated to- 

 gether at Bukoba, Lake Victoria Nyanza, As the species which I 

 describe here was obtained from a locality about fifteen hundred 



