298 THE CEPHALOPODA. <§.«§> 260, 26l. 



still at the bottom of the female genital organs ; for, later, the action of the 

 sperm would be obstructed by their solid envelopes. It must, therefore, be 

 supposed that the sperm is carried from the cavity of the mantle into the 

 ovarian capsule, either by means of the anti-peristaltic movements of the 

 oviduct, or by the aid of the aquiferous system.*^' 



§ 2G0. 



With the individuals hitherto known as the Hectocotyli, the genital organs 

 occupy a space disproportionably large to the size of the body. The round, 

 smooth enlargement on their posterior extremity is a genital capsule, with 

 thin walls, and containing the sperm and the copulatory org.ns.'^^ The 

 sperm forms a long, moniliform, clustered string, composed of thick oval 

 bundles of spermatic particles, regularly bound together b}' fasciculi of 

 hair-like spermatic particles. ^-^ In. this clustered string are included, also, 

 the Ductus ejaculatorius and the very long and retractile penis. With 

 Tremoctopus violaceus, this penis sometimes projects between the fifth of 

 the posterior pair of suckers, as a small cylindrical, folded prolongation. *^> 



§ 261. 



The Development of the Cephalopoda is alm.ost without analogy, and, 

 from the remotest times, has excited the curiosity of Naturalists; but it is 

 only very recently that it has been correctly understood and followed from 

 its first stages.'^' 



After the disappearance of the germinative vesicle, the vitellus divides ; 

 but this segmentation is only partial. Usually, at the acute extremity of the 

 vitellus, where the germinative vesicle is found, there appears a small 

 elevation from the vitelline mass, divided into halves by a furrow. Each 



5 According to KöUiker (Entwickel. &c. p. 11), had become free from an accidental rent of the 



the eggs are fecundated while yet contained in tlie genital capsule, 

 ovarian cajjsule. 1 Arinlotle (Hist. Animal, lib. A'^. cap. 16, 4), 



1 See Heclocotylun octopodis, in Ann. d. Sc. and in the last century, Cavolini (Abhandi. ül)er 

 Nat. li)C. cit. fig. 1-3, b. die Erzeugung der Fisclie u. d. Krebse, 1792, p. 5i) 



2 I liave so observed it with the males of Tremoc- had already declared tliat, with Sepia, the vitelline 

 topuK violaceus ; and Dujardin, also (Hist. Nat. sac is situated on the head of the embryo, and, as 

 d. Ilehninth. p. 482), has observed a smooth cord it were, hanging from the mouth ; but it is only 

 composed of capillary spermatic particles with latterly that tliis statement lias been thoroughly 

 Hector.otyliis octopodis, Cuv. verified ; see Froriep, Das Thierreich, Abth. V. 



I am uncertain as to the origin of this cord, but, 1806, p. 23, fig. 8-10 ; Carus, Erliiuterungstaf. lift. 



in the sjjecimens preserved in alcohol, which 1 have 111. 1831, p. 10, Taf. II. fig. 16-30 ; Ciivier, Snr 



examined, it appeared probable that it was prima- les oeufs de Seiclie, in the Nouv. Ann. du Mus. I. 



rily contained in the deferent or m the testicular 1832. p. 153, PI. VIII. fig. 6-14, also in abstract 



canal. in Ann. d. So. Nat. X.'^f VI. 1832, p. 63, or Froriep^s 



3 The Ductus ejaculatorius of Tremoctopus Notiz. X.K.XIV. p. 193 ; Coldstream, On the foetus 

 violaceus, whicli is gradually continuous into the of Ssjiia officinalis, in the Lond. and Edinb. philas. 

 penis, begins by a well-marku»l, clavate thickening, Blagaz. Oct. 1833, or Froriep's Noli/.. XX.X.IX.. p. 

 projecting into the genital capsule, and apparently 6 ; Du^is, Note sur le developpement de renil)ryon 

 perforated at its upper e.'Ctremity, at which point, che/, les Mollusques ccphalopodes, in Ann. U. So. 

 perhai)S, the sperm enters. Near the end of the Nat. VIII. 1837, p. 107, PI. V., or Froriep^t neue 

 penis, this canal has, over a consiilerable e.Ktent, Notiz. VII. p. 209, fig. 3-9.; X)'Oriig-/(i/-, in Ferw«- 

 gmall horny tubercles, and it is probable that this sac, loc. cit. Loligo, PI. X. tig. 3-6 ; Kan lieneden, 

 portion can be everted, thus allowing the ijossi- Kecherches sur I'embryoginie des Sepioles, in the 

 biUty of an intimate union with the female organs. Nouv. Mem. de I'Acad. de Bru.s'elles, XIV. 1841, 

 I am unal)le to say whether this isso with the other PI. I.; Delle Chiaje, Descriz. X. p. 38, Tav. VI. 

 Hectocotyli. The penis of Heclucotylus ar^o- fig. 6, 7 (Sepia), Tav. .XIV. fig. 14-24 {Arf^onau- 

 niu<ae, accordUig to a figure oi Delle Chiaje (ioc. ta), and Tav. X.XI.X. fig. 2-5 (Sepiola). But the 

 cit. Tav. XVI. fig. 1, a), and Costa (Ioc. cit. PI. first phases of their development remained unob- 

 XUI. fig. 2>, c), projects from the posterior ex- served, until A'ö//<7i:er, in 1841-, filled this ditliciency 

 tremity of the body ; but it may be, that with the by liis masterly work — EntwickelungsgeschicU- 

 ipecimens CKamined by llit-se naturalists, this organ te der Cephalopoden. 



