88 



composed of two longitudinal rows of columnar ciliated 



cells. 



The cavity of the vesicle is filled by a clear trans- 

 parent fluid. Fitting on the pad internally is a small 

 conical calcareous statolith (fig. (ua, and 67, Stat.), 

 which is probably secreted by the cells of the pad. 



The function of the statocyst is that of equilibration. 

 Experiments in other Cephalopods have shown that 

 destruction of one or both statocysts causes loss of power 

 to balance properly in the water. The description given 

 by Owsjannikow and Kowalevsky of the statocyst of 

 Octopus agrees with this organ in Eledone. Kolliker has 

 shown that the short blind finger-like canal, running 

 outwards from the wall of the vesicle near the 

 sensory ridge (fig. 67, K. C), is the ciliated remnant of 

 the invagination which gives rise to the auditory pit, seen 

 in the embryos of Cephalopods. 



REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM. 



I. Female. 



The Ovary occupies the posterior end of the visceral 

 dome. It is a large organ, the size varying with the 

 season, and with the maturity of the specimen. When 

 enlarged, the ovary pushes the kidneys which before 

 partially overlaid it forwards and to one side, thus 

 separating them posteriorly (PI. V, fig. 37, G. and R. K.). 



The gonad is a whitish oval gland, with a thick tough 

 wall. The ventral region of this wall alone bears the ova, 

 which are suspended from it in racemes. Hence the 

 germinal epithelium of the ovary is confined to this 

 ventral region. There arc from 30 to K) racemes of ova 

 (PI. V, fig. : ^9, ov.). Elsewhere the wall of (lie ovary is 

 smooth, with the exception of a much Folded and twisted 



