89 



patch, situated in the middle line (fig. 39, gldr. p.). 

 Here there is a thickened region, intersected by many 

 sinuous lines. Above the oviducal apertures the patch is 

 trilobed, while below them it is bilobed and much Larger. 

 This raised and folded region forms a frill round each 

 oviducal aperture, the two being sepa rated by a folded 

 ridge (tig. 39, c. ?*.). There are two symmetrical, equally 

 developed oviducts, through which the ova pass from the 

 genital gland to the exterior. They open into the dorsal 

 wall of the genital gland by two closel}- approximated 

 apertures, one on each side of the middle line (PI. V, 

 tig. 39, l. od. op. int.). The initial part of their course is 

 best followed by turning aside the ventral wall of the 

 ovary, together with the ova. The oviducts are embedded 

 in the substance of the dorsal wall of the ovary for some 

 distance beyond their origin, and are hence obscured ex- 

 ternally (fig. 39, emby). It will be seen that the water 

 vascular canals are similarly embedded in the wall of the 

 ovary for the first part of their course. On reaching the 

 lateral wall of the ovary the two pairs of tubes become 

 free and run round the side of the genital gland to its 

 ventral surface. From this point the oviduct slants 

 obliquely forwards and outwards, dorsal to the kidney, 

 and at the level of the ureter reaches the ventral surface 

 of the visceral mass. About half-way down the duct 

 occurs a whitish oval swelling — the oviducal gland. As 

 shown in fig. 8, the terminal third of the oviduct is visible 

 from the mantle cavity, being only covered by the 

 epithelium of the visceral mass. 



All the eggs in any given ovary are at the same stage 

 lit maturity. The origin of the ova has not been followed 

 in Eledone, and the youngest specimens examined alreadv 

 show Hi.' eggs well developed, and surrounded by a 

 nourishing egg follicle. In other Cephalopods the ova 



