MELANENCHYTRAEUS SOLIFUGUS 



Fig. 1 5.' — The right nephridium of the 15th segment, with the neigh- 

 bouring bundles of chaetae. Combined figure from two 

 sections. 250 : i. 



Fig. 16. — Reconstructed sperm- duct of the right side, p pore, a bulb 

 (drawn as semi-transparent), in which the prostatic glands 

 bb open ; c fusiform swelling of the duct ; d loop sur- 

 rounded by the glands e; in funnel. 130 : i. 



Fig. 17. — Reconstructed spermathecae as a transverse section (from 

 a series of transverse sections), prs external pore, drs 

 duct, rs cavity of the spermathecae, ars its appendages. 

 130 : I. 



Fig. 18. — Anoplophrya sp? parasite in the intestine of Melanenchytraeus. 

 380 : I. 



Fig. 19. — Parasitic cysts from the m.to.'sAxciQ.oi Melanenchytraeiis\ « entire 

 cyst ; b longitudinally cut cyst, showing its contents of 

 nucleate clear globules separated from each other by 

 pigmented matter. 380 : i. 



Additional Note. — The Italian edition of the above pages was in the 

 press when I received from Mr. Percy Moore a separate copy of his valuable 

 paper on the Alaskan Enchytraeid.^ Mr. Moore had at his disposal many 

 more specimens than I had, and among them a number of sexually mature 

 specimens, which allowed him to recognise the ovisacs and female pores. 

 He found that the spermathecae do communicate with the intestine by a 

 small pore. I have revised the only series of sections which I possess from a 

 specimen with apparently fully developed spermathecae, and cannot find any 

 pore ; but the organs lie in close contact with the intestinal wall, and it may 

 be supposed that my specimen was abnormal or not fully mature. 



Mr. Moore describes another smaller species whose spermathecae are 

 without diverticula, and calls it M. nivus. This and M. solifugus he refers to 

 the genus Mesenchytraeus, regarding the characters of Melanenchytraeus not 

 sufficient to justify a separate genus. 



After the snow was melted on the glacier, Mr. Bryant observed the 

 worms to become more active, living in little water pools on the glacier. I 

 suppose that the most mature specimens came from such localities, and that 

 the eggs are laid in the water. Mr. Moore examined also specimens collected 

 by Mr. Wright on the Muir Glacier, and identified them with both M. solifugus 

 and 7iivus. 



Bologna, July, 1899. 



^ A Snow-inhabiting Enchytraeid {Mesenchytraeus solifugus, Emery), collected by Mr. 

 Henry G. Bryant on the Malaspina Glacier, Alaska, in Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philadelphia^ 

 1899, pp. 125-144, pi. VII. 



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