REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM. 7 
practically versed in the higher group. Blainville recognised the ovaries in Oceanca (following 
Peron and Lesueur), but mistook them (following Eschscholtz) for stomachal appendages in 
Thaumantias, Geryonia, and allied genera. Lesson, confused throughout, repeats the same 
mistake. Ehrenberg recognised their true position in his “ Melicertum campanulatum” (1. e. 
Stomobrachium octocostatum) and Oceania pileata. Sars first described them in Taumantias 
and Stomobrachium as dilatations of the gastro-vascular canals; but more lately recognised 
their true office. Milne Edwards demonstrated their true nature in Aiquorea violacea, and 
inferred their office by analogy in all the so-called Cryptocarpe. Brandt appears to have 
followed Eschscholtz. Will perfectly comprehended their true nature, and demonstrated their 
structure. Frey and Leuckhart take the same view. Indeed, it seems strange that such great 
diversity of opinion and so much error should ever have prevailed respecting the position of 
the glands of generation in the naked-eyed Medusee, especially when their true nature in the 
steganopthalmatous species was recognised by all. ' 
In Turris, the genus which may be regarded as the highest in organization of the order 
under consideration, the ovaries are highly developed, and line the upper part or chamber of 
the stomachal cavity in the form of convoluted tubular and fimbriated membranes, conspicuous 
from their brilliant colour. Such an arrangement closely approaches that met with im the 
Steganopthalmata. In Oceania, a similar arrangement, though not so perfectly made out, 
prevails. In Geryonia, Thaumantias, and allied genera, the ovaries are more or less clavate 
or leaf-shaped, and are either expanded on the under surface of the sub-umbrella in the course 
of the gastro-vascular canals, or depend from it as membranous sacs or laminee, the latter form 
being that seen in Stomobrachium and Aiquorea. In Willsia, Bougainvillia, and Lizzia, 
they present the appearance of lobes on the sides of the stomach ; but those of the first-named 
genus are much more regular and normal than those of the two latter. Their number, when 
well defined, may be very considerable (as in A/quorea and Mesonema); but in our British 
forms the greatest number is that seen in Stomobrachium and Circe, where there are eight; 
next, Willsia, which has six; the remaining genera have four ovaries, each of which, in 
several instances, is composed of two equal and similar parts. 
Though I have used the word ovaries for these bodies, as if the animals were unisexual, 
I have done so only as a convenient form of speech. There is every reason to believe that the 
majority of the Medusz are bisexual, though the two sexes appear to be united, but maintained 
by distinct organs in certain forms, especially in the higher group. The diccious character 
of the naked-eyed forms has been demonstrated by Milne Edwards, Wagner, and Will. The’ 
first-named naturalist showed that some individuals of Aiquorea violacea were females, having 
egos in their generative organs, others on which there were no trace of eggs, but abundance 
of spermatozoa, being males. 
Will describes the sexual organs of Geryonia pellucida as lying in the course of the 
radiating gastro-vascular canals, their further extremities rounded, the inner ends pointed. At 
the latter he found ducts of emission which reach the base of the peduncle. Each gland 
consists of two lancet-shaped halves; each half is provided with a special duct of emission, so 
that there are consequently eight ovaries in the female, and eight testicles in the male, of this 
genus. “The ovaries are twisted sacs in which the eggs lie close to each other, the largest 
towards the margin of the disc, the smallest towards the peduncle. The perfectly-developed 
eges are of a whitish colour, opake, and measure 1-8”; the germinal spot is round and 
