240 Mr Budgett, Observations on Polypterus and Protopterus. 



than in old females, and the pectoral limbs appear to be broader. 

 During the breeding season, however, in both sexes the limbs 

 and also the tip of the tail become much elongated and 

 attenuated. In some cases the pectoral limbs extended beyond 

 the vent and ended in extremely fine threads. 



Though the nests of Protopterus were never actually seen in 

 the wild state, eggs were obtained which proved to be fertilized. 



The ova of Protopterus annectens measure 5 mm. in diameter, 

 are enclosed in a thin horny capsule, and are light salmon colour 

 above, and slightly tinted with greenish in the lower hemisphere. 



Segmentation is complete, but very unequal. After the first 

 three or four cleavages it is quite irregular, and results in an 

 upper hemisphere of small cells, and a lower hemisphere of larger 

 cells. The eggs were not reared beyond the beginning of gastru- 

 lation. 



Larva) two inches in length were obtained from the swamps, 

 presumably hatched in the preceding breeding season. These had 

 three pairs of well developed external gills, arising however 

 apparently at a common point of origin. 



In one case these external gills were as long as the head and 

 provided with long vascular fringes. The spermatozoa of Proto- 

 pterus are very large, twice the diameter of a red corpuscle in 

 length. 



As I was obliged to return to England early in the breeding 

 season my observations on the life history of Polypterus and 

 Protopterus are necessarily very incomplete. I hope however to 

 return to their breeding grounds next season to complete the 

 study. 



