On the Spermatophores of Octopus Americana. 41 
as evagination continues, becomes a more or less definite layer, often 
with lump-like masses that cover the outside (figs. 2, 7, 12, and 15). 
About one-third of that portion of the ejaculatory apparatus nearest 
the oral end of the spermatophore is spirally coiled. There are from 
14 to 20 distinct loopsin this coil. The loops are pressed close together, 
but there is a distinct groove between them that is filled with the 
granular liquid. There is considerable difference in spermatophores 
as to how near the oral end the coiling begins. Frequently (as shown in 
figure 1) there are a number of loose coils near the oral end, but this is 
not always the case. When ejaculation begins the loops near the oral 
end are first to straighten out. 
EJACULATION. 
When a spermatophore is placed in sea-water and the cap thread is 
pulled, ejaculation begins immediately. Ejaculation will begin in 
spermatophores placed in sea-water without pulling the thread, but 
the process is delayed. This is doubtless due to largely increased 
tension due to osmosis and may be aided by softening of the cap. 
Ejaculation will also begin in the air, probably because drying shrinks 
the outer tunic and thus increases the tension, but this is of course 
not normal. 
It is easiest to keep material for study in a solution of calcium 
chloride and to remove specimens individually into sea-water when 
needed for study. Specimens will keep in good condition for study in 
this solution for some hours. Many other solutions that reduce the 
osmotic tension in the spermatophores have bad effects on the mem- 
branes so that normal ejaculation is interfered with when they are 
returned to sea-water. 
It is probable that normal ejaculation is started by pulling the cap 
thread. How this is done has not been ascertained. The spermato- 
phores are stored in the spermatophoric sac with their aboral ends 
pointing outward—that is, toward the opening of the penis. Octopus 
has a hectocotylized arm that has a groove passing along one margin 
from the base to the tip. There is every reason to believe that the 
contents of the spermatophores, if not the spermatophores themselves, 
are passed along this groove from the base to the tip. 
Racovitza (1894 a and b) has described how in Octopus vulgaris the tip 
of this arm is inserted into the mantle cavity of the female, and he 
found by dissection afterward that the oviducts of the female were 
packed with sperm. In 95 minutes during which the act of copulation 
continued no movements of the animals were observed except slight 
movements of the hectocotylized arm. Although the actual passage 
of the sperm could not be seen, as the arms are very opaque, it is 
evident that they are passed down this groove. 
