'Q 1; 



y 



SYRSKI ON THE ORGANS OF REPRODUCTION OF FISHES. 



Fig. 20. 



only in eels not more than 430 millimeters long, 



corresponds entirely with that of tlie ovaries. In 



these organs are likewise found, toward the pos- 

 terior end, the spermatic accessory organs (partes 



recitrrcntes), which, however, as is the case with 



the ovaries, are sometimes wanting. 

 The spermatic organs can be distinguished 



at the first glance from the ovaries of the adult 



eels and those of young eels, not only by their 



lobular form, but also by their shining glassy 



appearance, by the surface of the individual 



lobes, which is smooth and without leaflets, and 



by the much greater density of the tissue, so that 



with a pair of pincers one can take off a large 



portion of the organ, which could not possibly 



be done with a more developed ovary whose tissue 



is as tender as a cobweb, and. is composed of 



small vessels formed of a thin membrane and 



filled with eggs and fat. 

 The fibrous tissue of the spermatic organs is 



composed of vascular compartments with thicker 



partitions, inclosing, according to the develop- 

 ment of the organ, granular globules (fig. 22). 



These compartments are joined toward the in- 

 side and the base of the lobes, which are united 

 to a tube (vas deferens), which, crecal at the com- 

 mencement, runs along the entire length of the m- \ ml 

 abdominal cavity, and opens near the straight 

 intestine (rectum) in a triangular pouch, which 

 likewise contains a vas deferens starting from the 

 caudal part of the spermatic organ. This pouch 

 has its outlet in the genital orifice, which opens in 

 the urethra (fig. 23). 



As regards the development of the spermatic 

 organs, I have observed that the lobes of these 

 organs in young eels, measuring not more than 

 200 to 300 millimeters in length, are FlG - 20 - Male eel 

 not yet very distinct, forming two 

 thin ribbons differing but little from 

 ovaries of the female in their aver- 

 age size. In eels measring about 

 400 millimeters in length, the tes- 

 ticles can easily be distinguished 

 from the ovaries. The former, 

 much straighter, and with tissue, 

 as has been already remarked, 

 much more solid, are provided with 



733 



-« 



-8 



-«■ 



V 



a great 



Eight testicle. 



Left testicle. 



Right accessory part. 



Lett accessory part. 



Dividing membrane. 



Deferent canal. 



Seminal pouch. 



Anal degression. 



TTriuary bladder, covered to 

 extent by the seminal pouch. 



Fat on the right side. 



Similar fat covering the stomach. 



Fat on the left side. 



Stomach. 

 n. Pylorus. 



o. Liver, turned up to show the inner 

 surface adhering to the oesophagus 

 and the stomach. 

 p. Gall-bladder. 

 qq. Pectoral fins. 



a. 

 b. 

 c. 

 d. 

 e. 

 f. 

 O- 

 h. 

 i. 



k. 

 k'. 

 I. 

 m. 



