344 MR. V. E. bEddaed ok earthworms [Apr. 16, 



drawings (text-iig. 84, p. 341). This peculiarity has been lately 

 figured by Vejdovsky ^ in Tuhifex Uancliardi, a species of that 

 o-enus discovered in Algeria, Among the exceedingly numerous 

 spermatophores of P. hindei and P. violacei'S, I did not discover 

 any intermediate forms which were suggestive of immaturity- The 

 shorter spermatophores I do not regard as immature, as they 

 possess the same layers and are of equal thickness with the largest. 

 I have been able to find no evidence at all of a conclusive nature 

 as to the site of the formation of these spermatophores in the 

 genus Polytoreidus, so remarkably like those of Tuhifc.v, Limno- 

 drilus, Psammoryctes, &C. Frequently the spermatophores could 

 be observed imbedded among the tall columnar cells of the sper- 

 mathecal sac, which has bowed right and left to make way for 

 them. But in such cases there was no organic fusion between the 

 cells and the spermatophores suggestive of their origin from these 

 cells. 



It is interesting to note that an earthworm has now been shown 

 to possess spermatophores which agree in all essentials, and even 

 further, with the spermatophores of the Tubificidse. On the other 

 hand, Stole has shown in BotJirio neuron vejdovshyanum'' — and I 

 have been able to confirm his results in another species of that 

 genus, B. iris "' — that a Tubificid may possess spermatophores 

 essentially like those of a Lumbricid. These two series of facts 

 further break down — if any more destruction is necessary — the old 

 division of the Oligoehfeta, devised by Claparede, into Limicolse and 

 Terricolae. It is difficult, however, to understand why the form of 

 the spermato]jhores should be so differeiat in earthworms. It is 

 true that many African forms — possibly including the species 

 which is the subject of the present communication — are aquatic, 

 unlike the majority of earth\\ orms. But so are such genera as 

 Alma and CriodrUus, which possess spermatophores of a different 

 form. The difficulty would be got over were it certain that the 

 spermatophores were invariably formed in the spermatheCcB. But 

 it appears on the whole that their elongated form and at least the 

 central axis is a product of the spermiducal glands in Tuhifex, and, 

 according to Lankester, the bulk of the outer case is also a deriva- 

 tive of the epithelium of the atrium or of the cement-glands. 



That they are moulded in the spermathecse seems to be proved 

 by Lankester's researches. There is, however, at present no evi- 

 dence of a like formation for the spermatophores of Polytoreutus. 

 They are, moreover, so totally different from the spermatophores of 

 an allied genus of earthworms, Stuhlmannia, which I shall describe 

 immediately and of which I shall indicate the probable origin, that 

 the place of their formation seems hardly likely to be the same. 



(3) On the Spermatopliores of Stuhlmannia. 

 The site of the formation of the spermatophores in the Order 



1 " Note sur uu Tubifex d'Algerie," Mem. Soc. Zool. France, 1891, p. 1. 



2 " Mongrafie Ceskych. Tubificidu," Abbandl. Bobm. Ges. vii. 



' " On an Aquatic Annelid of tbe Qenus Bofkrioneuron, &c.," P. Z. S. 19Ul, 

 vol. i. p. 81. 



