28 ON THE ANATOMY OF MEGASCOLIDES AUSTRALIS, 
Reproductive Organs.—The macroscopic appearance of these structures has been 
described by Mr. Fiurcuer. 
When the body of the earth-worm is opened (Fig. 1), a series of racemose 
structures (vs.) are seen in certain of the anterior segments, overlapped and almost 
hidden from view by the strongly developed septa. They vary in development 
according, doubtless, partly to the age of the worm, and partly to the time of the 
year at which the animal is examined. 
In the eighteenth segment, a long closely coiled tube is seen on either side, 
pushing through the comparatively thin walls bounding the segment in which it lies. 
This is the prostate gland. 
Figs. 3 and 4 represent diagrammatically the relative positions of the different 
reproductive organs. Fig. 3 is supposed to be seen from the side, Fig. 4 from the 
dorsal surface. 
1.—Male Organs. These consist of two pairs of testes (¢.’ ¢.”), attached close to 
the ventral surface to the posterior faces of the septa, bounding anteriorly the tenth 
and eleventh segments respectively. In addition to these there may occasionally be 
found an extra pair in the same position in the twelfth segment (¢.”) Hach testis is 
about 1-5 mm. in diameter, and consists of a small central portion, from which radiate 
numerous stiff processes, most largely in the plane of the septum, close to which the 
testis lies. 
In the tenth and eleventh segments are the two pairs of large ciliated openings 
of the vasa deferentia. These are white coloured, and have their margins, as usual, 
thrown into very deep folds. The whole internal surface of the funnel-shaped opening 
is ciliated, and full of ripe spermatozoa. 
No trace of the vasa deferentia can be seen on dissection; they lie in the 
connective tissue beneath the peritoneal epithelium, and run back in this position to 
the eighteenth segment, where they enter the prostate gland. 
The two vasa deferentia are completely separated from each other throughout their 
whole course (Fig. 30.) The great thickness and strength of the septa render it 
difficult to cut this part of the animal in section, but a complete series was obtained 
of longitudinal sections showing the whole course of the two vasa deferentia, which 
certainly run through a length of three, or in the fully expanded worm, even four 
inches in the body wall. The funnel is very close to the septum, and is composed of 
small ciliated cubical cells. It looks very thin when cut in sections, and forms—with its 
small cubical cells, only covered externally by a very small quantity of connective 
tissue, and its widely open mouth—a strong contrast in form and structure to the 
nephridial openings. The duct (Fig. 30) runs from each funnel through the septum, 
which is here very thick, but in doing so, does not run straight, but first of all curves 
upwards, coils about to a certain extent (not shown in the diagram), and then passing 
downwards towards the ventral surface, crosses over a special small bridge of muscle 
fibres and connective tissue (a), and so reaches the ventral body wall. Probably this 
