1901.] FROM BKITISH EAST AFKIOA. 361 



of wliicli Lears a median squarish papilla, which are shown in the 

 figure already referred to. The segments which bear these are 

 xxiv., XXV., xxvi. AVhen the worm is viewed laterally these 

 l)apilla^ are seen to project markedly. Otherwise they are not 

 very conspicuous by reason of colour or texture. 



As in other species of Gordiodrilvs, there is a single cahiferuas 

 gland in segment ix. There are two pairs of hearts in segments 

 X., xi. The gizzard appears to be entirely absent, as is generally 

 the case in the species of the genus. The sej^ita di\ iding segments 

 v./x. are thickened, the last septum not to so great an extent as 

 are those \\hicli precede it. 



Male Organs of Generation. — This species of Gordiodrilus, like 

 the majority of its congeners, has two pairs of testes, which occupy 

 the usual segments and the usual position in those segments. 

 They are attached, that is to say, to the anterior septum of 

 segments x., xi. There is nothing noteworthy about the structure 

 of these gonads. 



The sperm-sacs are rather unusual in number and position. In 

 most of the species of this genus sperm-sacs are present, and it 

 may be that the differences recorded in the number ol: pairs and 

 the segments which they occupy will prove to be distinctive as 

 marks of specific difference. In Gordiodrilus papiUatus there 

 were three pairs of sperm-sacs lying in segments ix., x., si. These 

 sacs showed the racemose character so often exhibited by these 

 sacs. In addition to the three sperm-sacs, which had thin but 

 perfectly recognizable walls, a mass of loose sperm fills up the 

 ventral part of segments x.. xi., which lodge the funnels of the 

 sperm-ducts. It does not appear that these masses of sperm had 

 any walls of their own, so that they cannot be regarded as sperm- 

 reservoirs ; they are merely, as has been stated, masses of sperm 

 for which presumably no room could be found in the sperm-sacs, 

 as the latter were completely filled with the usual masses of 

 developing spermatozoa. 



The sperm-ducts commence by large funnels in segments x., xi. 

 They lie, as is always the case, opposite to the corresponding 

 testes. They are much folded, and have not the simple cup-shaped 

 character that sometimes distinguishes the funnels of the lower 

 earthworms. From each funnel arises a sperm-duct, and the two 

 ducts of each side are perfectly independent for the greater part 

 of their course. They lie above the muscular layers of the body- 

 wall. A segment or two in front of their opening into the 

 terminal muscular buibus, to be described immediately, the two 

 ducts of each side unite, so that there is but a single orifice into 

 the muscular buibus. 



The glands and other structures associated with the external 

 orifice of the sperm-ducts help by their structure to bridge over the 

 not very wide gap that separates the two African genera Gordio- 

 drihis and Nannodrilus \ The latter genus, originally described 



1 " On two new Grenera comprising three new Species of Earthworms," 

 P. Z. S. 1894, p. 388. 



