42 



rected into the seminal vesicles, in stead of entering the ciliated funnels 

 of the sperm-ducts lying quite opposite them. 



Both sperm-ducts of each side unite together in the middle of the 

 Xllth segment and the common duct , deeply embedded in the longitu- 

 dinal muscular layer, above the series of the external ventral bristles 

 (2), passes straight back as far as segment XXVII; it then sharply 

 bends itself to the ventral median line and opens on to the exterior 

 in the intersegmental groove of segment XXVII and XXVIII, just 

 in the series of the internal ventral bristles (PI. II. figs 16 and 18). 



In the vicinity of the external pore the sperm-duct unites with the 

 excretory duct of a small prostate-gland ; the structure of this gland 

 could not be very well recognized , but it seems to consist of numer- 

 ous pyriform cells, which convey their secretion into a central duct. 



In the ventral portion of segment IX I met with a curious, organ, 

 (fig. 16, x) of which I cannot understand the meaning. It consists 

 of a folded membrane, lined with a layer of ciliated cells, somewhat 

 resembling the funnel of a sperm-duct ; opposite to it a body, consisting of 

 spherical cells, is attached to the posterior side of the anterior septum. 

 Perhaps they represent a testis and funnel in a rudimentary state. 



The ovaries have the usual position and are attached to the 

 posterior side of the anterior septum of segment XIII; they have a 

 grape-shaped appearance and contain eggs in all stages of development. 

 Numerous bloodvessels traverse the ovaries. The largest eggs are 

 situated at the periphery of the ovary and appear to lie in an obvious 

 capsule; only a single nucleolus could be observed within them. At 

 the posterior side of the posterior septum of segment XIII an organ 

 is attached of about the same size as the ovary and containing also 

 a number of eggs; this organ represents the receptaculum ovorum. 

 Though in its appearance much resembling the ovary, it is disting- 

 uished from it by containing only large, mature ova, which are more 

 coarsely granulated than the eggs in the ovary and ordinarily do not 

 show a germinal vesicle; probably this represents a more advanced 

 stage of maturity , as was before discussed in my paper on Eudrilus '). 

 Like in other Lumbricidae the receptaculum ovorum represents a sac, 

 whose cavity is subdivided by a large number of folds growing in- 

 wards from the wall; this wall consists of a connective membrane, 



1) Mém. de la Soc. Zool. de France, T. III, 1890, p. 223, pi. VIII. 



