310 



function of reproductie» n, and that afterwards the eoveriag of the 

 disk and the genitals are regenerated. Now certainly this is no 

 more than a suggestion, as among the ten specimens I possess 

 of the mutilated forms , none is in process of restoration, neither 

 the smaller nor the bigger ones. This might however be due 

 to the followiug reason , that almost all the specimens were col- 

 lected in the time of the year between April and November, in 

 the East-Monsoon, and perhaps the restoration of the disk takes 

 place in the other months. However, this is all only conjecture 

 and only observations on the spot itself, at different times, can 

 make out, whether a restoration takes plaee, and whether the 

 function of reproduction is the real cause of the amputation of 

 the disk-coveriDg. Most probably the expeditiou under the leadership 

 of Prof. Max Weber, that is to start this year for the East-Indian 

 Archipelago, will bring us the solution of these questions. 



1 April 1898. 



