THE FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM. 271 



In C. femur -riibrum^ the epididymis forms a longer, slenderer bundle 

 than in 0. spretus or C. hivlttatus. 



The vesiculoe senainales are lodged in the 6th and 7th segments of tbe 

 abdomen. The two vesiculae unite over the fifth abdominal ganglion 

 and form a thick, very short duct {ductus ejaculatorius), which passes into 

 a large spherical muscular mass {prwptitium)^ behind which is the large 

 intromittent organ (penis), which forms a short chitinous cylinder, com- 

 l)licated in structure, and differing considerably in the four common 

 species of Caloptemis [C. spretus^ atlanis, femur-ruhrmn, and MviUatus)^ 

 and affording excellent specific characters. The penis can be seen in 

 place without dissection by drawing back the orbicular convex piece 

 called the. velum penis. The penis is armed with hooks and projections. 

 The organ and its armature are much alike in C. spretus and C. atlmiis ; 

 fJ, femur -rubrum differs from both, while in G. hivittatus it is like that of 

 C. atlanis. 



The female reproductive system. — The ovaries (Fig. 14, ov) form a large 

 mass, just before oviposition, distending the abdomen somewhat, and 

 crowding the intestine a little out of place. The ovaries consist of two 

 masses of tubes, each mass tied to the other by slight bands, with air- 

 sacs and tracheae ramifying among them. There are from 17 to 22 tubes 

 arranged in two rows in each ovary in Caloptenus femur -rubrum ; in one 

 C. spretus we counted 50 tubes in each ovary, making 100 in all. Each 

 tube averages about 8 millimeters in length, and contains about 10 rudi- 

 mentary eggs, besides the nearly ripe ones (though only from thirty to 

 one hundred eggs are laid). These tubes lie along the intestine and 

 extend into the prothorax. They communicate, though not freely, there 

 being apparently a thin membrane opposed to the free passage of the 

 eggs, with the common ovarian duct, which is greatly prolonged, enter- 

 ing into a long, somewhat twisted, slender tube, which connects with its 

 fellow, and serves to hold the two ovaries together. The two tubes pass 

 down on each side of the intestine, and unite to form the oviduct, which 

 lies on the floor of the abdomen. It is as long as a ripe egg. Above the 

 openingof the duct, and directly communicating with it, is the hursa copu- 

 latrix, a capacious pouch lined within with several narrow, longitudinal, 

 chitinous bands. Behind the bursa copulatrix lies, partly resting under 

 the fifth abdominal ganglion, the sebific or colleterial gland (Fig. 14, sb), 

 which is flattened, pear-shaped, a little over half as long as a ripe egg. 

 From the under side, a little in advance of the middle, arises the sebific 

 duct (Fig. 14), which, after making three tight coils next to the ganglion, 

 passes back and empties into the upper side of the bui^sa copulatrix, 

 dilating slightly before its junction with the latter. The sebific gland 

 secretes a copious supply of a sticky fluid, which is poured out as the 

 eggs pass out of the oviduct, and agglutinates the eggs into a mass, 

 forming a thin coating around each egg, which from mutual pressure of 

 the eggs causes the tough coating to be pitted hexagoually. The above 

 description will apply to C. spretus, G. femurrubrum, and G. bivittatus, 

 the parts within not differing specifically. 



