A Mesostoiua from Bloemfontcin. 
59 
relationship with Mesostoma lingua, it possesses a vagina, the absence of 
which is one of the diagnostic features of the family Typhloplanidae ; and 
in connection with the presence of a vagina goes the absence of the bursa, 
which is typically present in the genus Mesostoma. The points of resem- 
blance between the present animal and other M. spp. are, however, so 
numerous that it would be folly to establish a new family to receive it ; 
the only correct course is to drop "vagina absent" from the diagnostic 
characters of the Typhloplanidae in future. 
Secondly, although the structure (7) is that of a typical ovarium, and 
has the position of that organ as it is in other M. spp. (e.g. M. procluctum), 
I have failed to find the oviducal lumen through the muscular portions 
(8 and 9). The portions marked 8 and 9 are round tubes with muscle 
fibres, arranged from right to left, completely blocking their lumina. Also, 
the secretion of the uterine glands (21) is suspiciously like that found 
in the eggs, so that I am half inclined to believe that, although the 
vitellaria" described above have the histological structure of such organs 
as described for other Planaria (Schneider, " Lehrbuch der Histologie "), 
they may be germaria, perhaps even ovaria ; the body (7) would then be a 
gland of unknown function. Anyway, the reproductive organs of Bhah- 
docoelida, as also of the present species, need " intra- vitam " study before 
we can be clear as to the part which the numerous kinds of glands play in 
reproduction. 
In conclusion, I may mention that two other Typhoplanidae have been 
recorded from Africa (according to von Graff in Das Tierreich " : 
Turbellaria II. Ehabdocoehda, 1913) :— 
1. P. 461, Mesoijharynx otopliora (Schmarda), from Stellenbosch. 
2. P. 292, Mesostoma lacteum (Neppi), from fresh water near Gara 
Mulata, Ost Afrika. 
