2 S. F. CLARKE. 



which there seems to be but a thin coating, serving to keep 

 together the eggs which have been deposited in that particular 

 spot. This viscid substance however, rapidly absorbs water and 

 in a few hours forms the bulky gelatinous matrix in which the 

 eggs are contained. During the early stages of development the 

 matrix is of suflBcient consistency to hold together when the mass 

 is suspended by a small portion held in the hand. As develop- 

 ment progresses however, the mass at first gradually, afterwards 

 more rapidly, loses consistency, so that by the time the embryos 

 have ac(jnired their balancers, the eggs will almost drop out of the 

 matrix when the mass is held out of water in the hand. Each egg 

 is surrounded by two membranous shells and the large space 

 between the two membranes as well as the inner space, is filled 

 with a clear, transparent fluid. The embryo thus situated within 

 two elastic, spherical sacs containing fluid and the whole placed 

 within a mass of yielding gelatinous substance, is well protected 

 against injuries from collision with hard objects and also from 

 becoming the food of voracious fish ; for the latter appear to find 

 no satisfaction in drawing into their mouths, portions of this 

 gelatinous material which slips out as often and as rapidly as it is 

 drawn in. 



I was interested to find, after carefully watching the process a 

 number of times, that the number of eggs deposited at a time 

 depends upon accident. If the creature is disturbed, as by another 

 individual striking against or touching it, or by the moving or 

 jarring of the dish, she immediately suspends operations, and seeks 

 some more quiet spot for the continuance of her labors. I have 

 seen a single egg deposited and again a bunch containing one hun- 

 dred and fifty. While the eggs are being extruded the animal 

 usually lies with its anterior limbs extended laterally, while the 

 hind limbs are curved around the opening of the cloaca and appear 

 to assist in holding together the eggs as they are laid. 



The males showed no inclination to clasp the females, but quietly 

 deposited quite large masses of an apj^arently rather thick liquid, 

 opaque white, on the bottom of the dish in which they were kept. 

 Upon examination this liquid was found to consist of spermatozoa 

 moving actively in a liquid. The eggs were found to have adher- 

 ing to their outer shells, shortly alter, a considerable number of 

 these male elements, but I could not succeed after trying a great 

 many times in finding any spermatozoa within even the outer shell. 



