786 CONTRIBUTION TO AUSTRALASIAN OLIGOCHiETA, I , 



trace the vessels by sections alone. Traces of commissural 

 vessels were found in all the segments, and in the postclitellar 

 region, connected with these in each segment, is a plexus of 

 vessels in association with the intestinal pouch. No marked 

 11 heart "-dilatations of the dorsal vessel could be seen. 



Male organs. — No testes comparable with those of other 

 Oligochaeta could be seen, but the body-cavity of segment xi. is 

 filled with a mass of spermatozoa. This mass is contained within 

 a thin-walled sac, the presence of which is denoted by the regular 

 appearance of the mass, in examining an entire specimen in Canada 

 balsam, and resembling exactly that seen in A. notabilis — that of 

 a large unpaired sperm-sac. 



The funnel of the spermiduct projects for some considerable 

 distance into the cavity of segment xi., and is attached to the 

 posterior wall of that segment. In longitudinal sections it 

 appears as an elongated horseshoe-shaped structure, directed 

 obliquely towards the dorsal body-wall. Its wall consists of a 

 single layer of squarish cells, with deeply stained spherical nuclei, 

 and is provided with very long cilia which project for some con- 

 siderable distance into the cavity of segment xi., beyond the 

 mouth of the funnel. This bunched mass of cilia is comparable 

 to that in the funnel of A notabilis, but, unlike that in the latter 

 species, it does not take such a deep stain, which colouration I 

 noted in the description of that species as being due to something 

 of a glandular nature. The mass in this case is certainly true 

 cilia, and not spermatozoa, filling the funnel, as they can be 

 clearly seen to be continuous with its epithelial cells; and, under 

 the highest powers, show none of the characteristics of spermatozoa. 

 The spermiduct is a fine intracellular nephridial-like tubule, 

 which, after leaving the funnel, passes backwards and ventrally 

 as a much coiled structure to join the spermiducal gland. The 

 duct is much shorter than that of A. notabilis, and does not 

 extend, in a horizontal direction, posteriorly to the spermiducal 

 gland. In transverse sections passing through the region of the 

 anterior part of the spermiducal gland, one sees the spermiduct 

 cut across a great many times, and appearing as a complex 

 nephridial tubule, in section. 



