I in. nvr.M. 



It Is in many cases doubtful whether a par- 

 ticular membrane is a chorion or a vitelline 

 membrane. 



All the membranes which surround the 

 ovum may be provided with a special aper- 

 ture known as the micropyle. A micropyle 

 is by no means found in the majority of 

 types, and there is no homology between 

 the various apertures so named. Micropyles 

 have two functions, either (i) to assist in the 

 nutrition of the ovum during its develop- 

 ment, or (2) to permit the entrance of the 

 spermatozoa. The two functions may in 

 some cases coexist. Micropyles of the first 

 class are developed at the point of attach- 

 ment of the ovum to the wall of the ovary or to its follicle. 

 Good examples of this kind of micropyle are afforded by the 

 Lamellibranchiata (fig. 12), Holothuria, and many Annelida 

 (Polynoe, etc). The micropyle of the Lamellibranchiata (p. 37) 

 probably serves also to admit the spermatozoa. The second 

 type of micropyle is found in many Insecta, Teleostei, etc. 



FIG. 7. SECTION 

 THROUGH A SMALL 

 PART OF THE SURFACE 

 OK AN OVUM OF AN 

 IMMATURE FEMALE OF 



SCYl.LIUM CAMCULA. 



ft. Follicular epi- 

 thelium, vt. Vitelline 

 membrane. /.n. Zona 

 radiata. yk. Yolk with 

 protoplasmic network. 



GENERAL BIBLIOGRAPHY OF THE OVUM. 



(1) Ed. van Beneden. " Recherches sur la composition et la signification de 

 Pceuf," etc AMm. cour. d. FAcad. roy. dti Sciences de Belgique, Vol. XXXIV. 1870. 



(2) R. L e u c k a r t. Artikel " Zeugung," R. Wagner's Handwrterbutk d. Pkysw- 

 /ogif, Vol. IV. 1853. 



(3) Fr. Leydig. " Die Dotterfurchung nach ihrem Vorkommen in d. Thierwcll 

 u. n. ihrcr Bedeutung." Oken. /sis, 1848. 



(4) Ludwig. ' Ueber d. Eibildung im Thierreiche." ArMUn a. d. *l.-eol. 

 Imlilut Wunburg, Vol. I. 1874'. 



(6) Allen Thomson. Article " Ovum " in Todd's Cychpadia of Anatomy and 

 Pkysiology, Vol. V. 1859. 



(6) W. Waldeyer. Eieritock u. i. Leipzig, 1870. 



1 A very complete and critical account or the literature is contained in this paper. 



