PHOXICHILIDIUM COCCINEUM. 129 
germs, or ova, seated on the false feet: from an examination of 
this specimen, I was so fortunate as to obtain a clear insight into 
some of the very early stages of the ova, which, so far as I can 
judge, throw much light upon the subsequent stages. ; 
Hach sac, or germ, contains a large number of minute ova, 
which are attached to the investing membrane by four filament- 
ous appendages. These ova, in early stages, are globular (see 
fig. 1), and appear to consist of a number of granules enclosed 
in a transparent envelope, from whence proceed the filaments 
just alluded to. As these granules increase in size, they undergo 
a sort of segmentation, and put out six rounded lobes, four being 
at the precise spots from which the filaments are produced, while 
the remaining pair are larger, appearing between the two pairs, 
and rapidly increase into two prominent processes, which soon 
assume the form of foot-jaws (see figs. 2 and 3), and are each 
provided with a pair of “nippers.” The first four warts, two 
and two, continue their growth, increasing in length very con- 
siderably, and ultimately produce four legs, which, though un- 
jointed, are capable of considerable movement. From the tips 
of these legs the long filaments are seen to proceed; and these 
have also considerably increased in dimensions, especially at their 
junction with the legs. Meanwhile the foot-jaws have also con- 
siderably enlarged, and, by their outward growth, have given 
place to another lobe, or wart, between them, which shortly as- 
sumes the form of a rostrum. And now we see a little Pycno- 
gon (fig. 4), with only four legs, it is true, but those members 
are of surprising length, and serve the purpose, I apprehend, of 
attaching the several larvee to each other, and to the sac contain- 
ing them. 
Having, therefore, seen the form, and apparent principle, and 
development, of the ova, from a mere mass of granules up to a 
period not far from that at which they would burst their bonds 
and enter upon a different life, we now come to the most difficult 
question—How does the young Pycnogon gain access to the 
Coryne? For the actual indisputable answer to this I am afraid 
we must patiently wait; at present, we can but surmise and 
guess at the process. I may perhaps be allowed to record my 
VOL. V. PT. 11. 0 
