48 



segment XI, but it is difficult to determine its exact position, the 

 septa being much displaced and pushed backwards. 



The spermathecae are lying in segment VIII and have the usual 

 shape ; their external orifices are situated in the series of the superior 

 dorsal setae , and not in the same line with the male pores , as is the 

 case with M. Houtenii. In the sections they could be observed, con- 

 taining spermatozoa. 



The male genital organs appear to resemble those of if. bar- 

 welli and M. beddardii. I however found the prostata (atrium) only in 

 its internal and superior portion, surrounded by groups of glandular 

 cells; its distal portion appears to be totally muscular. As mentioned 

 before, at the left side of the body this portion of the prostata was 

 everted, probably due to the violent contraction of the worm in the 

 alcohol. The structure of the prostata-glands in my specimen is not 

 quite in accordance with the description and figures of Beddaed *) ; 

 they consist of conical cells , containing a coarsely granular protoplasma 

 and furnished with long , slender processes , which are not lying directly 

 next to each other, but leave open spaces between them, as figured 

 in fig. 22. 



In the segment following that , which contains the male genital organs, 

 viz. the Xlth., the o v aries are observed, presenting ripe eggs ; moreover 

 several groups of eggs are found in the body-cavity of this segment and 

 also in two large sac-like bodies, which communicate with another 

 at the dorsal side, and extend into the three following segments. 

 The eggs are not very large. In this same segment a large funnel- 

 like organ is to be seen, extending from the dorsal to the ventral 

 side of the body (PI. Ill, fig. 23); its wall, consisting of a very vascular 

 connective tissue, is lined with a ciliated epithelium. It opens on 

 to the exterior in the series of ventral setae, and undoubtedly repre- 

 sents the oviduct as well as its funnel. 



It is rather difficult to state , wether our specimen is identical with 

 one of the species , hitherto described , as our knowledge of the cha- 

 racters of a good deal of them, specially of Bourne's Indian species, 

 is not sufficient to distinguish them with certainty from each other. 

 No doubt our worm very closely agrees with M. barioelli and M. bed- 

 dardii, two species which I believe to be identical. For Beddard in a 



1) Quarterly Journal of Microsc. Science, Vol. XXIX, 1888, p. 119, pi. XII fig. 11. 



