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Show 356 MR. F. E. BEDDARD ON EARTHWORMS [Apr. 16, Ln both genera the oviduct gives off a branch before it ends in the funnel lying inside the receptaculuin ovorum which opens into the spermathecal-sac system near to the position occupied by the ovary of its side. The two funnels are, as in Lyhiodrilus, not very different in size, a feature in which they both contrast with Stuhlmannia, where the funnel opening into the receptaculuin is enormous and explores every nook and corner of that sac. In Alvania' I find, on a reconsideration of m y preparations, an identical arrangement. I m a y mention, with regard to this latter genus, that the caecum of the oviduct, which I described as being visible in sections, is not an abnormality, as I thought at first, after ascertaining its presence, that it might be. For it also exists in Hypcriodrilus and Heliodrilus-a further reason, I must admit, for uuitiug these three genera, as has been done by Michaelsen. The same condition appears to exist in other Eudrilida?, as I judge from certain figures. Thus I a m disposed to believe that the tube lettered " os," in Bosa's figure - of the female organs of Paradrilus roses, is the oviducal tube opening into the ccelomic sac of the spermathecal system. Possibly also the tube lettered " sg " by Michaelsen3, in his sketch of the genitalia of Unyoria papillata, is of the same nature. In his original description of Stuhlmannia, Michaelsen notes the opening of the oviducts into the spermathecal sac. H e does not, however, state explicitly that there are two funnels, only referring to the fact that the oviduct is provided laterally with a receptaculuin. In his later and more detailed account of the species, Michaelsen speaks of a fuunel situated in the " ovarialblase." The latter paper deals iu an appendix with the comparative anatomy of the " Teleudriliuen," a group afterwards abandoned by the author, which contained only those forms with unpaired generative orifices. In that review of the anatomical characters the author mentions in an isolated sentence that " Bei Platydrilus kommuniziert die Sament-asohe clurch je einen Kanal mit den beidern Eileitern." In other cases he speaks of the " Eitrichterhlase," by which term the somewhat swollen muscular coat at the junction of the two branches of the oviducts and the tubes themselves are described. The term tends rather to imply a distinct structure, and does not appear to me on this account to be quite appropriate. I hope that the diagram (text-fig. 87, p. 354) given with this description may render the relations of the oviduct to the ccelomic spermathecal clear in Stuhlmannia and some of its allies. It will be obvious from the foregoing that, whatever view be taken of the homologies of the parts concerned, many, if not all, of the more complex forms of Eudrilida? undoubtedly possess two oviducal funnels. i "Two new Genera and some new Species of Earthworms" Quart. Journ. Micr. Sci. xxxiv. p. 271. 2 " Die exotischen Terricolen des k.-k. naturhistorischen Hofmuseums," Ann. k.-k. nat. Hofm. 1891, pi. xiv, fig. 13. 3 " Die Regenwi'irmer Ost-Afrikas," in Deutsch-Ost-Afrika, iv. pi. ii. fig. 24. |