274 ON THE OVIPARITY OF THE LARGER VICTORIAX PERIPATUS, 



very much enlarged and swollen out, while the branched portions 

 appeared feebly developed, in fact not distinctly recognisable. The 

 alimentary canal was almost empty, and the animal seemed to 

 have died of starvation. 



On October 3rd I dissected one of the eggs from the hatching- 

 box. I could find no embryo in it, but only the same semi-liquid, 

 yolk-like contents as when in utero, full of little oil or yolk 

 globules. Inside the thick sculptured "shell" there was, as 

 usual, a very thin and delicate transparent membrane. Probably 

 a young embryo was really present but was broken up in opening 

 the egg and overlooked; even at a much later period the embryonic 

 tissues are extremely delicate. 



On November 30th I noted that several of the eggs were showing 

 indications of an embryo appearing coiled up within them, but 

 the shell was so thick and opaque that it was impossible to make 

 out any details. I dissected the egg which was found on Septem- 

 ber 16th, and which had since then been kept separate from the 

 rest. I found in it a beautiful embryo Peripatus in an advanced 

 stage of development. The embryo was surrounded by a delicate 

 transparent membrane, which fitted closely on to it and was very 

 difficult to I'emove ; outside this came the sculptured shell. The 

 embryo possessed a distinct head, with clearly recognisable brain, 

 eyes and ringed antennae, and there were at least seven pairs of 

 appendages behind the antennae. It lay tightly coiled up, with 

 the posterior extremity resting against the side of the neck, in 

 such a position as to make it very difficult to count the appen- 

 dages. The specimen was stained and mounted in Canada bal.sam. 



This embryo, then, developed for more than 10 weeks after the 

 egg had been laid and did not show the least sign of " going to 

 the bad." 



I need hardly say that during the heat of the summer months 

 I found it \i very difficult matter to keep the eggs in a suitable 

 condition of moisture, especially as I had no previous experience 

 to guide me. Hence it is not to be wondered at that the majority 

 of the eggs perished, shrivelling up and being attacked by a mould. 



