220 DEVELOPMENT OF THE OVULUM. 
pella were beginning to be filled up with cellular tissue, and in 
which most of the ovula had aborted? modifications were 
presented. "The barren ovula abounded in raphides, situated 
in the central mucous undeveloped mass. In the fertile ovula 
they seemed exclusively attached to the festa, none were 
present in the nucleus or in the embryonary sac, and those 
present, attached to the testa, were exceedingly reduced in 
number; they were present in all the ovula I examined, not 
restricted as might be supposed to those of one ovarium, 
but present in those of different ovaria. Their subsequent di- 
minution of number in the more advanced ovulum, would 
indicate their absorption or conversion into the substance of 
the ovulum. Can they be interested in any chemical change 
taking place during the early development of the ovulum ? 
In the ovarium of the F. gracilis, not more than a line and 
a half long, they do not appear to have entered the ovula : 
these are filled with air, which is easily squeezed out through 
the foramen existing near the hilum : they abound in the 
placental mass ; some fascicles are visible at the base of the 
funiculi: between the walls of the ovarium, the external coat 
of which already presents a defined appearance, and an inter- 
nal green semi-organised mucilaginous mass, they occur in - 
vast quantities, they likewise occur, but not so numerously 
in the peduncles. 
l. and 2. Ovula in a very inda stage of development,- 
but after impregnation, in which the fascicles of ra- 
phides are confined to the umbilical cords ; some 
have nearly reached the hilum. 
3. Farther advanced ovulum, in which the raphides are 
no longer found in the cord, but have entered the 
ovulum. 
4. Longitudinal section of ditto. The raphides are seen 
lying in the unorganised mass of the nucleus? 
5. Some more magnified, representing the surface of the 
section the raphides occurring separately from the 
effects of the section. 
6. Barren ovulum. 
October, 1831. 

