The Organs of Reproduction a5 
In others, as the surf-fishes (Embiotocidz), they are relatively 
large and few in number. In the viviparous sharks, which con- 
stitute the majority of the species of living sharks, the young 
are large at birth and prepared to take care of themselves. 
The eggs of fishes vary very much in size and form. In 
Fic. 24 —Egg of Callorhynchus antarcticus, the Bottle-nosed Chimera. (After 
Parker and Haswell.) 
those sharks and rays which lay eggs the ova are deposited in 
a horny egg-case, in color and texture suggesting the kelp in 
which they are laid. The eggs of the bull-head sharks (Heterodon- 
tus) are spirally twisted, those of the cat-sharks (Scyliorhinide) 
are quadrate with long filaments at the angles. Those of rays 
are wheelbarrow-shaped with four ‘“‘handles.” One egg-case 
~ Se 
uly ies ae ae 
Je. 25.—Egg of the Hagfish, Myaine limosa Girard, showing threads for attach- 
ment. (After Dean.) 
of a ray may sometimes contain several eggs and develop 
several young. The eggs of lancelets are small, but those of 
the hagfishes are large, ovate, with fibres at each side, each with 
a triple hook at tip. The chimera has also large egg-cases, 
oblong in form. 
In the higher fishes the eggs are spherical, large or small 
according to the species, and varying in the firmness of their 
