460 BR. W. E. HOYLE ON CEPHALOPODS [May 7, 



the head being 0-02 mm. in diameter. The head is elliptical or 

 spheroidal and narrows rapidly into the stem, which then tapers 

 gradiTally towards the distal extremity where it ends in a bluntly- 

 rounded point. The distal portion stains rather more deeply 

 than the proximal, except for a small space quite at the base. 



At this stage signs of a longitudinal split ai'e seen in the handle 

 of the club (PI. XX. fig. 8), and as soon as the tip of this has made 

 its way through the integument several of these fissures are seen, 

 extending from about one-third along the club to its distal 

 extremity; they separate the handle of the club into from four to 

 six branches, the splitting being seen by transverse section to take 

 place from the centre towards the circumference (Ph XX. fig. 9). 

 When the integument has once been perforated the handle of the 

 club rises above the surface, its divisions divaricate one from the 

 other, and it assumes the form of a little tuft of bristles (PI. XX. 

 figs. 10 & 11). The half-dozen bristles first formed seem to 

 undergo a further splitting, for in one instance I counted ten 

 divisions, and in a few cases I noticed a radial striation in which 

 it was impossible to count the individual threads. 



The later stages I have not been able to foUoAv out in the 

 material at my disposal. I am inclined to think, however, that 

 the epithelial structures with a radiating tuft of fibrils, described 

 by me (:04, p. 193) in Polypus cci'borescens, may represent a later 

 stage of a similar apparatus. If this be so, there can be no doubt 

 that these bristle-tufts are of a cuticular nature, and the nucleus 

 which I have described as occurring in some of them (:04, pi. 3. 

 figs. 9, 11, & 12) must be based on a misinterpretation of the 

 appearances. 



It is not easy to say what is the function of these bunches of 

 cuticular bristles, other than to suggest in a general way that they 

 are protective. To point out, however, what they protect the 

 embryo or newdy-hatched larva from, or precisely how they act, is 

 not so easy ; and, as the material at my disposal is limited to one 

 set of embryos at about the same stage of development, I prefer 

 to leave the question for further investigation as opportunity may 

 serve. 



Sepia. 



Localities. — Zanzibar, Khotoni Harbour, shore, 1901 ; egg- 

 capsules [164] and embryos [165]. 



Dec APOD A undetermined. 



Localities. — Zanzibar, Chuaka Bay, taken by the tow-net in 

 shallow water ; embryos [182]. 



Zanzibar, reefs at the mouth of Chuaka Bay, February 22nd, 

 1901 ; egg-capsules [186]. Mr. Crossland records that they 

 were attached singly to the under surface of stones. 



Zanzibar, under stones in Chuaka Bay, March 27th, 1901 ; 

 embryos [185]. 



