BOMBYX MORI. 475 



on each side. These tubes are very small at their beginnings, so small 

 as to seem to be united or arise from one part. As they pass from this 

 union or origin, they become larger and larger, four going down on each 

 side of the belly : each four at last unite into one tube near the anus, 

 forming two ducts. These two tubes, formed by the union of the four 

 tubes on each side, unite into one, which is continued to the termination 

 of the tail, where it can be projected a little, forming two rounded lips, 

 which can be protruded : this is the common oviduct, or in appearance 

 what might be called vagina. These eight oviducts are filled with eggs 

 from one end to the other, which gradually become smaller towards the 

 beginnings of the tubes, as the tubes themselves become smaller ; but 

 at the time of laying they are all pretty well formed. Before this 

 common tube, or what might be called vagina, lies a bag [spermatheca], 

 very much in shape like the bladder of urine in the quadrupeds, viz. of 

 a pyramidal figure, which is fixed by its apex to the horny substance at 

 the anus (mentioned in the description of the external parts), and opens 

 externally. Near to the apex of this bag, passes a very small duct, 

 which enters the common oviduct, or vagina. Just above the oviduct, 

 or between it and the rectum, is another bag, which is smaller, and of 

 an irregular shape, terminating in a small end ; its duct enters the 

 oviduct, but not by a lateral communication as in the former. When 

 these bags are examined before copulation, they are found perfectly 

 empty ; and, when they have copulated, they are found full of a semi- 

 transparent whitish mucus. Behind, and on the side of these parts, are 

 two long bags or canals [colleteria], which at their extremities become 

 small at once, and from thence goes out a small duct which divides into 

 several. These smaller ones are coiled up on the lateral part of the 

 above-described parts and anus. They would appear to unite just 

 behind the former, and they open into the oviduct at the union of all 

 these parts. This is filled before copulation with a transparent mucus. 

 I am apt to suspect that the use of this last- described mucus is to give 

 the sticking coat to the egg. 



The enlargement of the rectum and the anus lie above these described 

 parts, and the opening of the anus is, I believe, in common with the 

 oviduct. 



Of the male. — The termination of the belly of the male is not so 

 pointed as the female ; it appears as if one ring had been cut off short, 

 whose edges had pretty long hair, somewhat like a short tail 1 . 



On the edge of the termination of the last ring, and on its under 

 surface, are two horny substances, I believe the remains of the last feet 



1 [Hunt. Preps. Phys. Series, Nos. 2325—2328.] 



