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PROFESSOR J. STEPHENSON AND PROFESSOR HARU RAM ON THE 
Beddard, nor can we find the processes of the gland cells which seem to open into 
the lumen of the ductule between the lining epithelial cells. The central lacuna, 
and the typically radiate appearance of the gland cells of the lobule, described by 
Miss Sweet, are also not present in Pheretima haway ana. 
It may be added that several authors have described forms of prostate gland 
intermediate between the tubular and lobular. So Miss Sweet (7) ( Megascolides 
illawarrse, Megascolex dorsalis , Perisogaster excavata) ; Benham (2) in the genus 
Tokea (included by Michaelsen in Megascolides) ; Michaelsen (3) in Notoscolex 
leai ; Stephenson (5 ) in Megascolides hastatus. 
A large number of structures, both superficially and histologically of very various 
kinds, have been collected together under the same general head as the prostates 
of the Megascolecidse. Such, for example, are the similarly named structures 
in the Geoscolecidse, Moniligastridse, and Tubificidse ; the atrium of various aquatic 
families of Oligochaeta ; and the copulatory glands, — also of more than one type- — - 
which are widely distributed in the Order. Beddard (l), finding reason for supposing 
that a relation exists between copulatory and spermiducal glands, held that those 
forms of prostate which are most like the copulatory glands must stand at the base 
of the series ; it seems reasonable, he continues, to suppose that the copulatory 
glands were originally modified tracts of the body-wall, which became invaginated, 
and furnished with penial setae for their greater efficiency ; the invagination might 
or might not involve the muscular layers of the body-wall. According to this view, 
the prostates would also be invaginated from the surface, and of ectodermal origin. 
As will appear from the account here given, this does not seem to be the case in 
the two forms of gland investigated by us. As to the further questions of relation- 
ship between the various structures enumerated above, we express no opinion at 
present; our aim is to clear a portion of the ground by an elucidation of the forms 
we have selected for investigation. 
Material and Methods. 
The example of the lobular form of prostate, Pheretima hawayana (Rosa), a 
member of the sub-family Megascolecinee, is perhaps the commonest earthworm in 
Lahore ; both adult and young specimens can be obtained at any time of the year. 
For the adult forms, the portion of the animal containing the prostates was fixed 
either in 10 per cent, formalin or in sublimate and acetic acid, usually after opening 
the body-wall by a longitudinal incision. The young specimens, being of small size, 
were fixed, either whole or the cut-off anterior ends, in the same fixatives. It 
should perhaps be added that there is no means of distinguishing the immature 
P. hawayana from the two other species of Pheretima found in Lahore, and that 
earthworms of more ■ than one species may be found in the same batch of material ; 
so that the specific identification of the young specimens of Pheretima is not 
absolutely certain. 
