474 OEIGItfAL ARTICLES. 



a long, delicate tube connects each with the chamber containing the 

 genital organ. 



The genital chamber contains only the genital organ, whether 

 ovary or testis, which is attached to the anterior wall of the chamber ; 

 the wall being reflected over the organ, as is clearly seen at the point 

 of attachment. The membranous wall, however, very soon becomes 

 so completely incorporated with the organ as to be no longer demon- 

 strable. In the female, there are two ovarian outlets from this 

 chamber, as well as the two already noticed as communicating with 

 the small lateral chambers. In the male, there are three outlets only, 

 two leading to the same small lateral chambers, and one into the vas 

 deferens. 



Thus it appears that all these so-called aquiferous chambers 

 open externally, through the nipple-formed orifices situated in 

 the branchial chamber. But, as might be expected, they have no 

 direct communication with the blood system; at least, I have hitherto 

 failed to discover any. 



In the LoUginidce we find these chambers considerably modified, 

 and reduced to two in number, — the renal and genital. The former 

 is no longer divided into two by a longitudinal median septum, but 

 forms one large continuous cavity — the pericardial of most writers ; 

 though it never contains the heart, so far as I have observed. In 

 this group, however, it holds, in addition to the vense cavse and their 

 glandular appendages, the hepatic ducts, with their attached pancreatic 

 glands. This is the case in Loligo sagittata, L. media, Onyclwteuthis 

 Lichtensteinii, Sepia officinalis, Sepiola Rondeletii, and Ommastrephes 

 todariis. In this last, the lower portion of the intestine and the 

 greater part of the ink-bag, and in Sepia, one half of the stomach and 

 the whole of the spiral caecum, are also lodged within this chamber. 

 And, in all the species, a small portion of the branchial hearts likewise 

 protrudes a little into it. The nipples, which bring this chamber into 

 communication with the branchial chamber, are placed further for- 

 ward than in the Octopodidce. 



The genital chamber is very much increased in dimensions in this 

 group, occupying the whole of the abdomen from the liver backwards 

 to the end of the tail. It contains, besides the testis or ovary, with 

 the single exception above alluded to, the stomach and caecum ; also 

 the branchial hearts and their appendages, a small portion of the 

 hearts only protruding into the renal chamber, as already noticed. 

 The latter organs are placed in two recesses, situated at the sides 

 towards the anterior end of the cavity, and which communicate 

 freely with the chamber. 



All these organs are covered with the membrane forming the wall 

 of the chamber, which is reflected over them in the manner of a peri- 

 toneum ; but it is not easily demonstrable, except at the points where 

 the various organs are attached to the wall, and there it is always 

 seen doubling back upon them. It is thus distinctly visible on the 

 stomach, over which it passes backwards, forming a fold carrying the 



