MancJiester Mevioirs, Vol. liii. (1908), No. 4. 5 



formalin they have turned a dirty, brownish colour. This 

 has not happened to the eggs of any of the three com- 

 pleted bunches preserved. 



On several occasions the completion of the bunch 

 was watched from the point at which this one had 

 arrived when the parent was disturbed. The .proximal 

 suckers, after forming the attachment-disc by pressing 

 some of the glutinous substance on to the glass, 

 proceed to press on to this the free ends of the stalks 

 of the nearest eggs ; moreover, they press the ends of 

 these stalks together to form the commencement of the 

 common stem of the bunch, and then incorporate into it 

 the ends of the stalks of the eggs a little further back, and 

 so on, the whole of the bunch gradually passing into view 

 from amongst the suckers as it is formed. The eggs are 

 moved about individually, and apparently with great 

 deliberation, by the suckers in their immediate neighbour- 

 hood ; but I was unable to distinguish any rotation or 

 other definite type of movement that might in any special 

 way have helped in the formation of the central cord of 

 threads. 



When the bunch has passed completely into view it 

 is held firmly against the glass for a short time between 

 the two posterior arms which are extended one on each 

 side of it as if to ensure the adhesion of the different 

 threads composing the central stem. At about the same 

 time the siphon begins to move about vigorously from 

 side to side, and water appears to be blown through it with 

 considerable force. When the manipulation of the eggs is 

 finished, two or three strong jets are directed full on to 

 them at short intervals. The arms then again display the 

 vigorous spiral twirling already described as occurring some 

 time previous to the production of the eggs; this movement 

 may also be occasionally seen in specimens that are not 



