UROGENITAL SYSTEM OF MYXINOIDS 



129 



cavity from a mesovarium which extends from the region of the 

 gall bladder to the posterior end of the body cavity, a distance 

 which is approximately one-half the entire length of the body. 

 Unlike Myxine, however, the proximal margin of the mesovarium 

 is always attached to the mesentery about one-third the width 

 of the latter from the alimentary canal. The mesentery and 

 mesovarium are more delicate than in Myxine. 



In the females which have eggs 2 mm. long or longer, the 

 mesovarium is approximately 10 to 15 mm. wide. Wliere the 

 large eggs are attached, the mesovarium is stretched into strands 

 which are 25 to 30 mm. long, and between the eggs it is 10 to 20 

 mm. wide. 



The distribution of the eggs is very similar to that in Myxine. 

 There are all gradations of sizes of young eggs from mere dots to 

 those 2 mm. long in adult females, but there are no intermediate 

 sizes between the latter and any larger eggs or corpora lutea that 

 may be present. 



The following table will give some conception in regard to the 

 number of large eggs which may occur in an adult female : 



Two of the specimens of Bdellostoma contain corpora lutea, 

 one having eleven, the other twenty-four, and all show signs of 

 degeneration. Small brown ovals, representing degenerated 

 eggs, are scattered irregularly among the eggs. 



In all the females, the eggs extend to within 1 or 2 cm. of the 

 posterior end of the mesovarium (fig. 84) , and there are sometimes 

 a few very small eggs in this most posterior part. No testis 



JOURNAL OF MORPHOLOGY, VOL. 



