ii8 



DISCOVERY REPORTS 



As a general rule, two spermatophores are found on each female, two being the number implanted 

 at each successful pairing, one from the right and one from the left ejaculatory duct of the male. 

 Sometimes, 4, 6 or 8 spermatophores occur, or 3, 5 or 7 may be found complete, with one broken 

 stalk attached as well. These are presumably cases of multiple pairing. I have seen as many as 6 empty 

 spermatophores on one specimen, but more often 2 or 4 will be full, as the thelycum is not large 

 enough to contain all the sperm-mass. Faulty implantation hardly ever occurs ; only one female was 

 found with spermatophores attached elsewhere than in the thelycum. This specimen carried 4 sper- 

 matophores, two fixed normally and empty, and two, full, on the base of the last right thoracic appen- 

 dage. 



From December onwards to April, the majority of adult females have paired, as well as quite a 

 number of those nearly adult. The peak season comes in February, when the greatest number was 

 found to occur. 



- SPAWNING 



Spawning takes place when the eggs in the ovary have reached an average diameter of o-55-o-6o mm. 

 It would appear that the eggs take about four months to reach maturity. 



Ruud distinguished three stages in the development of the egg, based on measurements of the egg 

 diameter: stage 1, diameter o-io-o-25 mm.; stage 2, diameter o-26-o-50 mm. and stage 3, diameter 

 0-5 1-0-70 mm. When stage 3 was reached, the eggs were spawned. I have measured the eggs from 

 1273 females and I obtained a slightly greater size range, with diameters lying between 0-05 and 

 0-70 mm. I first analysed the egg measurements from females caught in one season and in one area; 

 presumably they had all matured under the same conditions. It must not be supposed that all the 

 eggs in one ovary are of the same size. Great variation occurs, so I selected the smallest and the largest 

 for measurement and then worked out the mean diameter. As the southern summer advanced, the 

 monthly mean diameter in this one season was found to increase from o-o8 mm. in October, through 

 0-19 mm. in November and 0-32 mm. in December to 0-60 mm. in January, when the first females 

 which had spawned were also found. 



Table 12. Average diameter in mm. of eggs per month 



No^$'s with measurable eggs. 



