SYRSKI ON THE ORGANS OF REPRODUCTION OF FISHES. 721 



"squsene" (Squatina), "tremoli" (cramp-fish, or Torpedo), "rase" (ray, or 

 Raja), consists of one or two masses of eggs inclosed in a cellular tissue 

 which resembles that of the ovaries of birds. The eggs, when loosened 

 from the ovary in the abdominal cavity, enter two tubes, placed later- 

 ally, called the oviducts, across their inner, common orifice ; and in some 

 species, such as the majority of the dog-fishes (Mustelus), the cramp- 

 fish (Torpedo), &c, develop there till they become perfect animals, while 

 in others the eggs are surrounded by a solid horny shell, and their devel- 

 opment is completed in the water. The oviducts debouch in the termi- 

 nal part of the intestine. 



The second form (fig. 2), which is the most common among fish, is 

 found in nearly all osseous fishes, and consists of two sacs (one in the 

 "girai," &c), uniting toward the posterior end in a single oviduct, which 

 discharges outside behind the anus. Of a similar form are also the ova- 

 ries of the hermaphrodites, so far known (fig. 3), in the parietes of which 

 are found the spermatic organs, and of which the vasa deferentia dis- 

 charge into the orifice of the oviduct. The ova contained in such sacs 

 taken from the " vol pine" and the " branzini" during the spawning-season 

 are sold by our fishermen under the name of "Bottarga ". 



Fig. 3. 



Fig. 4. 



Fig. 3. Hermaphrodite organs. 



a. Abdominal wall. 



b. Dorsal wall. 



c. Left ovary. 



d. Left testicle. 



e. Abdominal commissure. 

 /. Dorsal commissure. 



ff. Intestine. 



h. Urin?,ry bladder. 



i. Anus. 



Genital orifice. 



Urethral orifice. 



J- 

 k. 



Fig. 4. Ovaries. 



a. Eight ovary. 



b. Left ovary. 



c. Intestine. 



d. Part of the abdominal wall. 



e. Urinary bladder. 

 /. Anus. 



g. Genital orifice. 

 h. Urethral orifice. 



In nearly all fish (except the "scarpene," &c), these sacs have on their 



inner surface leaflets, placed crosswise or lengthwise, and containing the 



eggs by thousands, which increase in number and size during the spawn- 



and distend the ovarian sacs. 

 46 f 



ing-season, 



