56 J. T. CUNNINGHAM. 



The history of the specimen of the ripe ovum iu Professor 

 Turner^s museum cannot^ unfortunately, now be traced. It is 

 described in the catalogue as '' egg of Myxine, enclosed in its 

 horny capsule^ with its terminal openings surrounded by pro- 

 cesses." This entry was made by Dr. Spencer Cobbold, but 

 that gentleman informed me that he received no account from 

 Professor Goodsir of the history of the specimen. The ter- 

 minal openings mentioned do not exist. Though there is a micro- 

 pyle at the protoplasmic pole it is doubtful if this had been seen 

 by Professor Goodsir. Tradition says that the specimen was 

 obtained by Mr. Shirley, formerly assistant in the Anatomical 

 Museum, and was by him dredged up from the sea-bottom. It 

 is certain that it was brought to the museum in the time of 

 Professor John Goodsir, but no record of its origin is now to 

 be discovered. It is possible that Dr. Allen Thomson's account 

 was founded on this Edinburgh specimen, as I have not been 

 able to find any indication that mature ova of Myxine ever 

 existed in Glasgow, where Thomson was professor. 



It is much to be deplored that Dr. Thomson did not give a 

 complete account of the sources of his knowledge of the Myxine 

 ovum. I am inclined to think that the Edinburgh specimen 

 was taken from a mature female, like Steenstrup^s, as I have 

 vainly dredged for the deposited eggs with much perseverance 

 iu places where the animals were extremely abundant. 



The portions of the literature on the subject in Danish and 

 Norwegian were translated for me by my friend Mr. W. E. 

 Hoyle, M.A., of the " Challenger^^ Commission Office, and to 

 him, as well as to Professor Turner and the several zoologists 

 who have given most courteous attention to inquiries concern- 

 ing Myxine which I addressed to them^ I have much pleasure 

 in expressing here my heartiest thanks. 



Course of the Research. — Since last June I have made 

 systematic efforts to obtain the ripe generative products of 

 Myxine, and as the animals were obtained with considerable ease 

 in large numbers in the neighbourhood of the Firth of Forth I 

 had some reason to hope for success. I have conveyed a 

 number ef living and well-grown specimens to the aquarium of 



