290 DK. T. S. COBBOLD O^ THE LAEOE HUMAN FLUKE. 



either orgau. I have now found in their place two irregularly 

 spherical and flattened masses with clearly defined limits (i, k). I 

 entertain no doubt as to the testicular character of the lower 

 organ (k). In the outline drawing I further indicated' the pre- 

 sence of a third and much smaller globular mass, which I termed 

 the ovary ; and this organ was seen with remarkable distinctness 

 in most of my recent specimens (h). The radiating, broad and 

 branching seminal ducts were in all cases beautifully distinct, 

 forming the most attractive feature of the parasite's organization 

 (k). Connected with the supposed ovary were a number of small 

 but very conspicuous tubes, which stood out as if they formed 

 a special organ (j), whose common ducts emptied themselves into, 

 or were connected with, the ovary. In whatever way we may in- 

 terpret its character, nothing could exceed its distinctness in the 

 fresh state ; and it may still be seen with clearness in one or two 

 of the dried specimens. The supposed upper testis (*') displayed 

 no radiating seminal tubes ; consequently I now conclude that it 

 is the ovary, whilst the small, black, spherical body lying immedi- 

 ately in front of it is what Von Siebold would call the internal 

 seminal vesicle (h). It is probably a diverticulum formed at the 

 junction of the ovarian and vitelligene ducts, whilst the singular 

 branched tubes in all likelihood represent a special shell-gland 

 (j). I made out the female reproductive organs with somewhat 

 more completeness. In the outline drawing already referred to, 

 I gave a diagram of the probable position of the uterine folds, re- 

 ducing the organ to the simplest condition. The conjecture was 

 right. In the fresh specimens, I found the uterus to comprise a 

 large number of unevenly folded tubes, which apparently proceed 

 laterally from either side of a large median duct (e). This duct 

 could be distinctly traced to its outlet in the reproductive papilla, 

 which, as usual in true Distomes, is placed in the middle line, im- 

 mediately above the ventral sucker. In my examination of Mr. 

 Busk's original specimens I could not find the slightest trace of 

 vitelligene organs ; but in the present set of fresh examples I not 

 only obtained proof that these organs were largely developed, but 

 that their limitations could be fixed with accuracy (^ ff). Tbey 

 consisted of two large elongated masses, one on either side of the 

 body, occupying about two thirds of the entire length of the para- 

 site. Their yelk-vesicles were distinctly seen ; but the main 

 efferent canals were only here and there traceable. Clearly the po- 

 sition and character of the yelk-formiug glands of the large human 



