432 Prof. M'Intosh's Notes from the 



extrusion of the young), while small intermediate ova on 

 short pedicles are studded on the surface of the thin wall. 



The chief feature of the male is the muscularity of the 

 sperm-ducts, the terminations of which are stated to be capable 

 of eversion, so as to facilitate the introduction of the male 

 elements into the ovarian chamber. This also would readily 

 be accomplished if, as in certain other marine forms, the sea- 

 water containing them gained admission to the cavity of 

 the ovary. 



Ovaries of the Catfsji (Anarrhichas lupus, L.). 



The somewhat close approach made by the catfish to the 

 foregoing species made the examination of its ovaries note- 

 worthy in this connexion*. In shape these considerably differ, 

 since they are separate anteriorly and connate posteriorly, as 

 usual in many fishes. Their walls are also much more 

 massive. There is considerable similarity, however, in the 

 arrangement and connexion of the eggs with the ovarian 

 wall, to which they are fixed like large flattened bunches of 

 grapes. In a female procured during the trawling experi- 

 ments at the end of August (29th) the majority of the ova 

 are about 4 millim. in diameter, each being attached by fine 

 thread-like bands of tissue. The membranous parts of the 

 folds to which the ova are attached show, in addition, nume- 

 rous microscopic ova. The vascularity of this tissue is slight, 

 and in striking contrast with the villous processes in the ovary 

 of the viviparous blenny. The ovaries of a specimen obtained 

 in February were unusually coarse internally from the presence 

 of numerous large ova (5 millim. in diameter) amongst the 

 smaller. Some of the large ova were quite free and appa- 

 rently ready for extrusion, while others were fixed to the 

 membranous pedicles and folds, which presented many 

 branching blood-vessels, as well as more minute ova. The 

 latter seem to be developed everywhere in the stroma of the 

 ovary and its villous processes. From the variable size of 

 the ova in this instance the spawning-period probably exten- 

 ded over a considerable time. The ova are, further, evidently 

 deposited on the bottom. 



Towards the posterior part of the organ, viz. about an inch 

 and a half behind the fork, in the latter specimen are several 

 bulla?, which have whitish albuminous contents. They are 

 visible on both sides of the wall. 



* In connexion with the development of the Teleostean reproductive 

 organs an interesting paper by Jules MacLeod will be found in the 'Ar- 

 chives de Biologie' (of Van Beneden and Bambeke), vol. ii. p. 497, 

 pis. xxix., xxx. 



