BY E. J. GODDARD. 779 



strand of cells with spherical nuclei and granular cytoplasm. 

 This strand passes from the antero-ventral margin of the chamber 

 through the septum separating segments xiii. and xiv., into the 

 cavity of the first of these, to be attached to the ventral body- 

 wall of the posterior portion of that segment in the region of the 

 posterior margin of the clitellum. Traces can be seen of a cavity 

 extending into this mass of cells from the exterior for some 

 distance, but the cells become confluent with the ventral sperma- 

 thecal chamber without any extension of that cavity into that of 

 the chamber. The nature of their cytoplasm, their arrangement 

 in an epithelial fashion along the sides of a cavity corresponding 

 to a lumen, and the attenuation of the epithelium of the sperma- 

 thecal chamber in the vicinity of the junction of the cells with 

 that chamber, make it quite clear that we have here a sperma- 

 thecal duct which is tending towards disappearance. Further, 

 the position of the duct, lying as it does in segment xiii., corres- 

 ponds exactly with the position of the spermathecal aperture in 

 those other members of the Phreodrilidce which are provided with 

 spermathecre. The spermathecaB are lined by a single layer of 

 large squarish cells whose outlines are very distinct. These cells 

 somewhat resemble those lining the spermiducal glands, but differ 

 in shape, and in the much more granular nature of their cytoplasm. 

 External to this epithelium is a very scant and indistinct trace 

 of delicate longitudinal muscle-fibres. 



In an examination of an entire specimen, there is seen in the 

 dorsal region of the much abbreviated segment xiii., in close 

 proximity to the septum separating it from segment xii., a pair 

 of funnel-like structures in which one can make out a central 

 lumen separated by an epithelium. Each of these is continuous 

 with a duct which runs downwards and obliquely backwards. 

 Beyond this no further traces can be made out in the entire 

 specimen. 



In longitudinal sections it is found that euch of these funnel- 

 like structures opens into the dorsal side of a thin- walled sac 

 attached to the anterior wall of segment xiii. These sacs are 

 paired structures, each of which passes ventrally into an oviduct, 



