IX 



MOLLUSCA 



365 



according to Faussek, are of mesodermal origin. During this period 

 the whole of the ectoderm, except that covering the inner surfaces of 

 the arms, undergoes mucous degeneration — i.e. the cytoplasm of its 

 cells degenerates into slime and is cast off. How the adult ectoderm 

 is regenerated Faussek was unable to determine. 





m^m^" 



"^^-M^--" 



I 



P.O. 



ITLC 



Fig. 297. — Transverse sections of embryos of young cuttle-fish, illustrating two stages in 

 the development of the genital organs. (After Faussek.) 



A, Section through young euibryo of Loliqo vulgaris, showing the first appearance of the genital cells 

 in tlie mesoderm. B, Section through older embryo of Sepm officinalis, showing the migration of these 

 cells into a fold projecting into the coelom. hr, rudiments of gills ; gen, genital cells ; gf, genital fold ; 

 If, heart ; m.c, mantle-cavity ; ^.a, posterior aorta ; per, pericardium ; p.s, posterior sinus ; s.s, shell-sac. 



At the time that the external yolk-sac is absorbed, a large 

 diverticulum, the spiral caecum, grows out from the stomach ; and 

 this circumstance, together with the enlargement of the internal 

 yolk-sac, into which some of the yolk from the external sac passes, 

 is responsible for the almost entire suppression of the cavities of the 

 kidneys and genital organs which takes place at this period. Later, 

 when the yolk is finally absorbed, the kidneys and pericardium 



