378 PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION D. 



Strange to say, however, although these eggs were laid 

 before the end of last July some of them have gone on 

 developing ever since and now contain advanced embryos ! 

 Can we suppose that an abnormally deposited e^g would go 

 on developing outside the body of the parent for more than 

 five months ? I had hoped that the eggs would have hatched 

 out before the present meeting of the Association, but the 

 development goes on very slowly and they have not done so. 

 It is very possible that they never will hatch out, for they 

 require constant attention in keeping the atmosphere just 

 moist enough, and, unfortunately, some of them have been 

 attacked by a fungus and destroyed. A few, however, are 

 still evidently healthy, and the embryo can be dimly discerned 

 lying coiled up within the thick, sculptured shell. 



On November 30th I first noted distinct indications of an 

 embryo coiled up within the egg, although some change had 

 evidently been going on before then. The shell, however, 

 was so thick and opaque that it was impossible to make out 

 details. To make certain, on November 30th I dissected 

 one of the eggs, and after cutting a piece out of the tough 

 shell managed to remove a beautiful embryo Peripatus. 

 The embryo was surrounded by a delicate thin transparent 

 membrane, which closely fitted on to it and was extremely 

 difficult to remove. I have also observed this membrane in 

 undeveloped eggs ; it is probably the vitelline membrane, 

 and it lies inside the thick, sculptured sliell.^ 



Microscopical examination showed that the embryo was in 

 a very advanced stage of development. It had a distinct 

 head with ringed antennae, and the brain and eyes were 

 clearly visible. There were also at least seven pairs of 

 appendages present behind the antennae. It lay coiled up in 

 the egg with the posterior extremity against the side of the 

 neck. I mounted the embryo in Canada balsam, and also 

 the sculptured shell from which I removed it, and I shall be 

 happy to show the specimens to any naturalist who wishes to 

 see them. This embryo was removed more than a month 

 ago, and, as already stated, I have some eggs in my posses- 

 sion still undergoing development, and probably now in a 

 much more advanced condition. 



I still hope that one or two of the eggs will hatch out, in 

 spite of the fungus and the difficulties of keeping the con- 

 ditions suitable. Even if they do not, however, I think the 



' The term " shell " is jjerhaps rather misleading, as implying a hard brittle 

 structure, whereas it is really a thick tough elastic membrane. 



