THE OVARIAN STRUCTURES OF THE VIVIPAROUS 

 BLIND FISHES, LUCIFUGA AND STYGICOLA. 1 



HENRY H. LANE, A.M. 



I. INTRODUCTORY. 



During the spring of 1902, Dr. C. H. Eigenmann collected a 

 number of specimens of blind fishes in the caves of western Cuba, 

 within a radius of I 30 kilometers of Havana. The fishes belong 

 to the two distinct but closely related genera, Liicifuga and 

 Stygicola. It has been my good fortune to have the oppor- 

 tunity of studying the reproductive organs more particularly, 

 the ovarian structures --of these blind fishes, with special ref- 

 erence to their method of reproduction. It was discovered 

 upon examination of the specimens that they are viviparous, 2 

 a fact long known in regard to some of their deep-sea rela- 

 tives. Owing to the lateness of the season when they were col- 

 lected, unfortunately but one female was pregnant. This one 

 measured only 65 mm. in length and contained four foetuses 

 borrowing a term to designate the post-larval stages of the young 

 until birth 18-20 mm. long. These foetuses were in an ad- 

 vanced stage of development, very probably being within a few 

 days, or possibly hours, of birth, since a number of young only 

 25 mm. long were caught in the water. No other prenatal speci- 

 mens having been secured, it has been impossible to study the 

 early stages of development. My attention has been particularly 

 directed to the ovarian structures of the mature females secured. 

 A few of the young specimens, evidently taken not long after 

 birth, were also examined. 



I wish here to express my deep sense of obligation to Dr. C. 

 H. Eigenmann for his assistance and criticism in the preparation 

 of this paper. 



1 Contributions from the Zoological Laboratory of Indiana University, No. 58. 



2 Eigenmann, '03, p. 236, pi. 21. 



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