Miscellaneous. 471 



MISCELLANEOUS. 



Observations on the Spermatophores of the Decapod Crustacea. 

 By M. Brocchi. 



In 1842 M. Milne-Edwards published, in the 'Annales des Sciences 

 Naturelles ' (2^ serie, tome xviii. p, 331), a memoir on the singular 

 bodies met with in the Cephalopoda, and noticed by Cuvier under the 

 name of machines or animalcules de Needham. He demonstrated 

 the true nature of these bodies, showing that they were peculiar re- 

 ceptacles destined to contain the seminal fluid, and he gave them the 

 name of spermatophores. 



These spermatophores have since been indicated in several Inver- 

 tebrata. They have been met with, Ist, in insects, M. Lespes having 

 described this mode of fecundation in the cricket ; 2nd, in certain 

 worms, such as Clepxine and Nephelis ; and, 3rd, in some of the lower 

 Crustacea, spermatophores having been seen and figured by Jurine 

 and Miiller in Cijclops Castor {Diaptomus Castor). However, the true 

 nature of these bodies was only determined by M. von Siebold. Si- 

 milar receptacles have been observed in others of the lower Crustacea ; 

 but, as far as I know, they have never been indicated among the 

 Decapods. 



Now, in investigating the anatomy of some Macrura, I have found 

 vovy distinct tubes in the interior of the penis of the males. The 

 existence of these seemed to be in relation with the state of func- 

 tional activity of the male genital organs, and to coincide solely with 

 the period of fecundation. 



I now believe that I am justified in regarding these tubes as true 

 spermatophores. In fact, in dissecting some male lobsters, I have 

 lately found, in the interior of the penis in these animals, a perfectly 

 distinct tube capable of isolation from the walls of the organ. This 

 tube was situated in the subterminal part of the penis and was of a 

 yellowish-white colour. On placing it under the microscope I di- 

 stinguished in it clearly a structureless envelope and contents formed 

 by spermatic corpuscles. The latter were very distinct, perfectly 

 recognizable, and in all respects conformable to the figures given by M. 

 Kolliker. Here, therefore, we have in a Decapod a tube containing 

 spermatic corpuscles — that is to say, a true spermatophore. 



In his 'Lecons sur I'Anatomie et la Physiologic comparce,' M. Milne- 

 Edwards noticed the existence of a rolled-up tube in the penis of 

 the spiny lobster (Palimirus). " In the spiny lobster,'' he says (tome 

 ix. p. 255), " the subterminal poi-tion of the ejaculatory canal is much 

 dilated, and contains in its interior a tube very much twisted upon 

 itself." Nevertheless the learned Professor does not pronounce an 

 opinion as to the nature of this tube. I may add that M. Alphonse 

 MQne-Edwards was unable to detect the presence of spermatic cor- 

 puscles in it. It seems to me that this tube is very probably of the 

 same nature as that observed in the lobster. I must remark also 

 that M. Milne-Edwards had, as it were, foreseen the existence of 

 spermatophores in the higher Crustacea. Thus, in the work which 

 I have already quoted (tome ix. p. 258), he says : — " While investi- 

 gating the Crustacea of the coast of Brittany in 1827, I found a 



