TRANSACTIONS OF SKCTION D. 769 



peculiar valve-like apparatus, the nature of which has not been completely examined. 

 It is suggested as a probable account of the function of these structures that the 

 sperm may be caused to issue from the long slender extremity of the spermatophore, 

 and thus fertilise the eggs whilst they are being laid. 



Some observations were added on the general systemati: significance of the 

 hectocotvlus. 



10. 0)1 the so-called Luminous Organs of jMsiiirolicus Pennantii (the Brilish 

 Pearl-sides). Bij Ed. E. Prixce. 



This small and somewhat uncommon British fish is said in life to exhibit 

 phosphorescence. The luminous organs or photo-discs are arranged, in the main, 

 in two rows along the sides of head and trunk towards the ventral line. Each 

 organ exhibits an eye-like structure, viz., a chamber closed in by a dense fibrous 

 wall save at one point behind, and again in front, where it is provided with a clear 

 lens-like plate. In front of this lens the integument passes and forms a cornea. 

 The contents of the rounded chamber are composed of a network of glandular 

 tissue, the nodal points of which form multipolar corpuscles. It is a peculiar 

 kind of adenoid tissue, and is continuous with a large cylindrical mass of shnilar 

 tissue occupying a large space below the abdominal cavity. This mass bifurcates 

 and in the abdominal region proper forms a pair of lateral cylinders in close 

 proximity to the lateral sensory line — the nerve supplying this line (a branch of 

 the vagus) finally terminating, in fact, in the glandular mcshwork. As the photo- 

 discs have precisely the arrangement of a lantern — a translucent lens in front, 

 with a protecting cornea, and a dense glistening reflecting wall behind — they are 

 without doubt for luminous purposes ; while as their energy becomes exhausted in 

 use the photo-discs are doubtless reinforced from the large glandular stores within. 



11. Oil the Ova of Tomopteris onisciformis, Eschscholz. 

 By Ed. E. Peince. 



The author holds that the figures and descriptions of previous authors do not 

 correctly represent the facts — the ova arising not as single nucleated cells vv'hich 

 subdivide and form compound masses, the so-called ' germ-cells ' of Dr. Carpenter, 

 but they appear to arise in a compound condition as groups of nucleated cells. 

 One of these cells seems to grow at the expense of the rest, and thus the mature 

 ovum of Tomopteris as in so many invertebrates is a product of several primary 

 ova, which are used as pabulum. 



12. On a Ciliated Organ, prohabhj Sensory, in Tomopteris onisciformis. 

 By Ed. E. Prince. 



13. Eeporf of the British Marine Area Committee. — See Reports, p. 95. 



14. A Forgotten Species of Peripatus. 

 By Professor F. Jeffrey Bell, M.A., Sec.R.M.S. 



In no account of the species of Peripatus does any writer ever make a reference 

 to a species described by Professor Schraarda in his ' Zoologie ' under the name of 

 P. quitensis ; in the second edition of this handbook, which is now lying before 

 me, the species is figured on p. 76 of vol. ii. It is stated to come ' vom aquato- 

 rialen Hochland Siidamericas,' and with a total length of 26 mm. it has thirty-six 

 pairs of appendages. It is much to be desired that attention should be called to 

 this species, so that travellers in or near the neighbourhood of Quito mav make a 

 careful search for it. 



It is only by repeatedly directing attention to the existence of these rare and 



1887. 3 D 



