720 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



chemistry, physics, and astronomy. But the objects of the first, which 

 consist of organic and inorganic forms and vital phenomena, being noth- 

 ing but the results of chemico-physical forces, also properly belong to 

 the domain of natural science. My lecture to-day will be confined to 

 the description of the organs of reproduction in fish, in so far as relates 

 to anatomy and in part to physiology. 



THE ORGANS OF REPRODUCTION AND FECUNDATION IN FISH IN 



GENERAL. 



The organs of reproduction in nearly all fish are distributed between 

 two individuals, in which the sexes are separate, viz, female and male. 

 So far we know only three species of hermaphrodites, in which the male 

 and female organs are found united in one and the same individual. 

 These hermaphrodites are the well-known " Perga comune" (Serranus 

 scriba), " Perga dahnata" (Serra?ms cabrilla), and the " Sacchetto" (Ser- 

 ranus hepatus).* 



There are three typical forms of the female organs, or ovaries, in fish. 



Figl.- Fig. 2. 



d. 



e. 

 f 



J- 

 k. 



Fig. 2. Ovaries, seen from the right side of the 

 abdomen. 



a. Abdominal wall. 



b. Dorsal wall. 



c. Left ovary. 



d. Intestine. 



e. Urinary bladder. 

 /. Anus. 



g. Genital orifice, with its outlet in the- 

 ft. Urethral orifice. 



Fig. 1. Ovaries ivilh oviducts, seen from below. 



a. (Esophagus, front part. 



b. Peritonasuni. 



c. Inner opening, common to the two 



oviducts. 



(Esophagus, rear part. 



Left ovary. 



Oviduct, front part. 

 g. Glandula of the oviduct. 

 h. Uterine part of the oviduct. 



Intestine, partly split open lengthwise. 



Urinary bladder. 



Separate outer openings of the ovi- 

 ducts. 

 I. Urethral papilla, 

 m. Outlet of the urethra. 



The first form (fig. 1), peculiar to the plagiostomes, among which we 

 mention the " pesci-cani " (dog-fish, or Mustelus), the" gatte" (Scyllium), 



* Hermaphroditism also occurs in the genus Lutjanus or Ocyurua, Poey having dis- 

 covered a hermaphrodite of his Ocyurua ambiguus. — (T. G.) 



