48 
segment  XI,  but  it  is  difficult  to  determine  its  exact  position,  the 
septa  being  much  displaced  and  pushed  backwards. 
The  spermathecae  are  lying  in  segment  VIII  and  have  the  usual 
shape  ;  their  external  orifices  are  situated  in  the  series  of  the  superior 
dorsal  setae ,  and  not  in  the  same  line  with  the  male  pores ,  as  is  the 
case  with  M.  Houtenii.  In  the  sections  they  could  be  observed,  con- 
taining spermatozoa. 
The  male  genital  organs  appear  to  resemble  those  of  M.  bar- 
welli  and  M.  beddardii.  I  however  found  the  prostata  (atrium)  only  in 
its  internal  and  superior  portion,  surrounded  by  groups  of  glandular 
cells;  its  distal  portion  appears  to  be  totally  muscular.  As  mentioned 
before,  at  the  left  side  of  the  body  this  portion  of  the  prostata  was 
everted,  probably  due  to  thé  violent  contraction  of  the  worm  in  the 
alcohol.  The  structure  of  the  prostata-glands  in  my  specimen  is  not 
quite  in  accordance  with  the  description  and  figures  of  Beddard  *)  ; 
they  consist  of  conical  cells ,  containing  a  coarsely  granular  protoplasma 
and  furnished  with  long ,  slender  processes  ,  which  are  not  lying  directly 
next  to  each  other,  but  leave  open  spaces  between  them,  as  figured 
in  fig.  22. 
In  the  segment  following  that ,  which  contains  the  male  genital  organs, 
viz.  the  Xlth.,  the  o  v  ar  ie  s  are  observed,  presenting  ripe  eggs  ;  moreover 
several  groups  of  eggs  are  found  in  the  body-cavity  of  this  segment  and 
also  in  two  large  sac-like  bodies ,  which  communicate  with  another 
at  the  dorsal  side,  and  extend  into  the  three  following  segments. 
The  eggs  are  not  very  large.  In  this  same  segment  a  large  funnel- 
like organ  is  to  be  seen,  extending  from  the  dorsal  to  the  ventral 
side  of  the  body  (Pl.  Ill,  fig.  23)  ;  its  wall ,  consisting  of  a  very  vascular 
connective  tissue,  is  lined  with  a  ciliated  epithelium.  It  opens  on 
to  the  exterior  in  the  series  of  ventral  setae ,  and  undoubtedly  repre- 
sents the  oviduct  as  well  as  its  funnel. 
It  is  rather  difficult  to  state,  wether  our  specimen  is  identical  with 
one  of  the  species ,  hitherto  described ,  as  our  knowledge  of  the  cha- 
racters of  a  good  deal  of  them,  specially  of  Bourne's  Indian  species, 
is  not  sufficient  to  distinguish  them  with  certainty  from  each  other. 
No  doubt  our  worm  very  closely  agrees  with  M.  barwelli  and  M.  bed- 
dardii, two  species  which  I  believe  to  be  identical.  For  Beddard  in  a 
1)  Quarterly  Journal  of  Microsc.  Science,  Vol.  XXIX,  1888,  p.  119,  pl.  XII  fig.  11. 
