SEPIA. 7 



The Cuttle Fish, like the larger proportion of the aquatic tribes, 

 perpetuates its race by spawn, consisting of a cluster of longer or shorter 

 cylinders or ovoids, with a rude resemblance to grapes^ and thence some- 

 times passing by that denomination. These are exceedingly various in 

 number and quantity, — clusters being seen of thirty ovoids attached to 

 a common substance by their pedicles. Much irregularity and disparity 

 subsist, probably depending on the species of the parent, its age or size. 

 The grapes extend from one inch to three or four ; the shorter of a 

 cluster frequently of as great diameter as the longer. In a cluster of 

 seven, they extended from nine to fifteen lines. The surface of the 

 spawn is smooth, often of such lubricity that it can be scarcely retained 

 in the hand ; its colour dingy white or watery blue. It is transparent 

 or opaque, according to the maturity of its contents, which, by their 

 advances, raise the surface of the spawn in i3rorainences. 



Now, we find a striking correspondence with the propagation of 

 some of the tribes of aquatic animals previously noticed. Like the 

 spawn of these, that of the Cuttle Fish consists of an indefinite number of 

 ova or capsules, each with an embryonic nucleus, imbedded in an albu- 

 minous mass. Also, as the nucleus is advancing, the swelling of the 

 capsules augments the common mass, until the embryo issues forth pre- 

 pared for inde]3endent existence. 



An immediate parallel may be drawn between the evolution of the 

 different tribes ; and, could we discover it, the origin of life, and the pro- 

 gress of evolution, pervades animated nature under determinate analoo-ies. 



A grape of the spawn of the Sepia loligo was set apart for observa- 

 tion on May 15. It extended nearly four inches, with a slight curvature 

 and tapered slightly, one end being thicker than the other. In four days 

 each ovum appeared to be a perfect sphere, containing an ovoid of much 

 smaller dimensions, lying on the lower part within. Its place shifts 

 with the altered position of the grape, and is always the lowest. It 

 might extend equal to one-third of the diameter of the spliere : its 

 thickness a fifth of that diameter. 



From the expansion of the ova, the grape had enlarged three days 

 subsequently ; and, from the same cause, about twelve convexities rose 



