Mr H. Goodsir on the Sexes of (he CirripcdSi ^'c. 89 



logy of the generative organs of these animals. The various 

 and contradictory nature of the opinions regarding thi^ ques- 

 tion in relation to the organs of generation, is sufficient to 

 cast a doubt upon the correctness of any one of them. Tho 

 Cirrhipeda have, until lately, always been looked upon as mollus- 

 ca, and this is, without doubt, tho cause of so much confusion 

 and uncertainty. 



Mr Hunter, who was tho first author that examined the an- 

 atomy of these animals with any degree of care, states his 

 opinion concerning tho organs of generation in the following 

 terms. " It is most probable that all Barnacles are of both 

 sexes and of the first class, viz. sclf-imprognators, for I never 

 could find two kinds of parts, so as to be able to say or even 

 suppose the one was male the other female."" He describes 

 what he supposes to be the tubular portion of the testicle, the 

 vasa deferentia, and the penis, but at the same time makes 

 no mention of an ovary. The erroneous conclusions to which 

 Hunter came in regard to the true nature of these organs, must 

 have arisen from the circumstance of his having examined 

 unimpregnated specimens only. 



Cuvier has the same opinion- as to the hermaphroditic 

 characters of the Cirripeds. but differs from Hunter as to the 

 anatomy and physiology of the generative organs. What Hun- 

 ter supposes to be the testicle, Cuvier considers the ovary ; 

 the vasa deferentia as the oviducts, and the penis as the ovi- 

 positor ; at the same time stating his belief that the ova are 

 impregnated as they pass through the ovipositor. He was 

 led to form these opinions from finding what he considered to 

 be the ovary filled with small granules which he supposed were 

 ova. 



Some other authors again, along with whom we find Sir 

 Evorard Home, consider that these organs already spoken of, 

 and thought by Hunter and Cuvier to be the only organs of 

 generation, are merely the male organs, and that the ovary is si- 

 tuated in the peduncle ; also that impregnation takes place by 

 means of the organ which Hunter termed the penis. This 

 opinion relative to tho existence of the ovai-ies in the peduncle 

 of the animal is incorrect. The mistake has evidently arisen 

 from the ova being found in this part of the body after their 



