PHARYNGEAL GLAND-CELLS OF EARTHWORMS. 257 
and are directly connected by means of ducts with the 
epithelium of the pharynx ; arrived at the pharyngeal 
epithelium the ducts branch out, sending numerous discharge 
tubes between the epithelial cells ; these ductules are fre- 
quently, though not generally, branched while in the 
epithelial layer, and each ductule is furnished at the distal 
end with a small storage chamber of oblong form and con- 
siderably smaller than the nucleus of the epithelial cells. 
There are also in this species five pairs of septal glands, 
ventral to the oesophagus, and principally attached to blood- 
vessels, in segments V-IX, of similar structure ; a very thin 
duct runs backwards and upwards from the upper end of 
each towards the alimentary canal at its junction with the 
septum, “ but I have some doubt about it emptying into the 
intestine, and it is much more probable that . . . these 
septal glands empty into the pharynx. None of my sections 
however show this to be the case.” The distribution of the 
septal glands in this species may be compared with what 
is found in Helodrilus (Bimastus) parvus (v. p. 23 
post.). 
In Benhamia nan a Eisen states that the glands are 
evidently unicellular, and the fine ducts penetrate between 
the epithelial cells of the pharynx, the discharge pockets 
being almost globular ; here and there the duct of a single 
glandular cell may be followed clear to the discharge pocket. 
“ But to draw the conclusion . . . that all the pharyngeal 
and septal glands are unicellular is, I think, premature. In 
Fon tod rilus, at least, there may be seen plainly numerous 
nuclei on the gland ducts, which of course indicates that we 
have here a fusion of several cells. . . . In Pontod rilus 
the majority, and all the large glands, consisted of several 
cells, the respective ducts of which finally united into one. 
In Benhamia I could see no such union, and the single ducts 
could be followed with great facility to the outlets.” In 
Benhamia liana the septal glands, in segments IX, X, and 
XI, are very narrow and only one cell thick in the row. In 
B. palmicola the small septal glands are in IX and X, but 
