VII 



MOLLUSC A GENITAL ORGANS 



239 



spermatophores. This pouch is flask-shaped and projects freely, with the end which 

 corresponds to the neck of the flask, at which the male genital aperture lies, into 

 the mantle cavity. The vas efferens receives (1) the short duct of an oviform gland, 

 the prostata, and (2) a simple, lateral, non-glandular caecum. The prostata takes 

 part, like the vesicula seminalis, in the formation of the spermatophores. The 

 prostata, csecum, and vesicula seminalis, in their natural position, form a coil, 



FIG. 197. 



FIG. 196. 



FIG. 196. Male genital organs of Sepia officinalis. 1, Genital aperture; 2, spermatophoral 

 pouch ; 3, vas effereiis ; 4. caecum ; 5, prostata ; 6, canalicule, opening into that part of the body 

 cavity which surrounds the male duct ; 7, vesicula seminalis ; 8, 9, vas deferens ; 10, gonad, a 

 portion of the posterior wall is removed, the genital cavity is revealed, and on its anterior wall is 

 seen the aperture of the male germinal body (12) ; 11, aperture of the seminal duct into the genital 

 cavity. 



FIG. 197. Male genital organs of Octopus vulgaris (after Cuvier). 1, Penis ; 2, muscle, cut 

 through ; 3, spermatophoral pouch ; 4, vesicula seminalis ; 5, prostata ; 6, vas deferens ; 7, opened 

 genital cavity, on whose anterior wall the testicular canals of the germinal body (8) are seen ; 

 9, aperture of the seminal duct into the genital sac. 



which lies in a special division of the secondary body cavity, the peritoneal sac. It 

 is remarkable that the vas deferens is in open communication with this peritoneal 

 sac by means of a narrow tube. 



The male efferent apparatus of Octopus (Fig. 197), as compared with that of 

 Sepia, is distinguished chiefly by the absence of a separate vas efferens. The long 



