336 DR W. CARMICHAEL M'INTOSH ON THE STRUCTURE OF THE 



tomy of the foregoing species (his Nemertes balmea), and his deviations from 

 accuracy, therefore, surprise us. He represents* the stylet-region as having the 

 lateral sacs placed rather behind the long central granular sac, each of the former 

 having a carunculated gland attached to its posterior end, while the latter has 

 two longer structures of the same description. None of these carunculated 

 appendages have been seen by me, since it can scarcely be supposed he refers to 

 the opaque granular condition of the angle (at «, fig. 1, Plate VII.), previously 

 described. His description of the contents of the lateral stylet-sacs is erroneous ; 

 for though the position of the stylets is of no moment, the assertionf (and cor- 

 responding figure) that each has a developing sac attached to its extremity is 

 very wide of the correct account. The outline of the stylets given by this author 

 is inaccurate, since no constriction is represented in front of the head, and no 

 mention is made of their curvature. The other objections to his views are noticed 

 elsewhere. 



The proboscis in the long purple species, 0. purpurea, while approaching that of 

 0. gracilis in slenderness and in tenuity of the posterior region, is yet more closely 

 allied to 0. alba in the structure of its comparatively short stylet-region proper. 

 The floor of the anterior chamber in this species is furnished with very minute 

 glands. Notwithstanding the great length of the worm, there is no corresponding 

 elongation of the stylets, and the granular basal sac of the central apparatus is 

 likewise short (X, fig. 2, Plate VII.) The lateral stylet-sacs are small, and somewhat 

 rounded, and their ducts are sometimes spindle-shaped, from marked constrictions 

 situated respectively at the sac and opening into the floor of the anterior cham- 

 ber. The stylets are at once distinguished by their short, stout form and peculiar 

 longitudinal markings, which resemble the longitudinal streaks in polished 

 mahogany (Plate V. fig. 12), and are due to irregularities in the outline. The 

 granular sac of the central stylet (Plate V. fig. 13, X) has only a slight constric- 

 tion in the middle, so that the lateral line, from the apex of the spike to the base 

 of the sac, is nearly straight. The opening of the ejaculatory duct into the cavity 

 behind the floor of the anterior chamber is wide. The reservoir is much elon- 

 gated, and it may be observed that its fibres, as pressed between glasses, are not 

 seen in a looping series down the sides of the cavity, but form a densely felted 

 arrangement on each side. When freed from pressure these fibres are observed to 

 cover the reservoir with most elaborate crossings, from the diverse directions which 

 they pursue. In the same region the longitudinal fibres are much developed 

 anteriorly, though they are only well seen on stretching the parts, otherwise the 

 felted arrangement of the looping fibres obscures them. The glands of the reservoir 

 are smaller and less distinct than in 0. gracilis, especially anteriorly. The channel 



* Op. c'd. pi. X. fig. 8. 



j " Quelquefois, surtout chez le Nemerte balmSe, on apercoit merae un commencement de la tige 

 du stylet." — Op. cit. p. 166. 



