SEXUAL ACTIVITIES OF THE SQUID 403 
As completed the sperm mass is cylindrical, with slightly 
tapering ends. The surface is smooth, the coiled thread being 
visible, but the coils are not prominent. The free surface is 
covered by a small amount of the mucilaginous material. In 
staining, the spermatozoa take haematoxylin, or other nuclear 
stains, and the mucilaginous material eosin. Scattered sper- 
matozoa are found in the mucilaginous material, but there are 
not many of them. In this condition the sperm mass appears 
much as it does in the completed spermatophore, except that 
the coils of the sperm thread are a little more open and more 
easily seen. ‘The change is to be accounted for by the pressure 
applied in the completed spermatophore by the elastic outer 
tunic. 
As the sperm mass passes back through the mucilaginous 
gland, the groove in which it lies is formed by an overhanging 
ridge, an arrangement that becomes very prominent in the suc- 
ceeding part of the spermatophoric organ (fig. 36, GR). 
As the sperm mass passes out of the mucilaginous gland the 
cement body is attached to the end which leaves the gland last. 
This body is evidently formed by the mucilaginous gland, but 
I have not observed the actual process of formation. It has 
been seen immediately after it has left this gland, and, as it 
must be formed before the coiled filament is laid down, and the 
coiled filament is formed just beyond the mucilaginous gland, 
there can be no alternative as to its place of formation. 
So far, I have not been able to determine whether parts one 
and two of the mucilaginous gland have the same function. 
Possibly one of these portions is concerned in the formation of 
the cement body alone, but I have not been able to find evidence 
on the point. With various stains these glands appear alike 
and the secretion in the sperm mass and the material of the 
cement body have similar affinities for stains. There seems to 
be a difference in composition however, for the cement hardens 
so as to stick permanently to bodies in sea-water, while the 
muci aginous material mingled with the sperm mixes freely 
with sea-water and liberates the spermatozoa. This differ- 
ence In composition has led me to search diligently for the exact 
