HEKMES' OBSERVATIONS. 



657 



The observations of Dr. Otto Hermes, director of tlie Berlin Aquarium, who has recently dis- 

 covered the true nature of the organ of Syrski in tiie Conger, are extremely interesting : 



"Since Syrski, in 1874, found the organs in Anguilla vulgaris — which are called by his name, 

 and which, by him and most zoologists, were taken for the male reproductive organs — it is only 



s 



1l 



JTX 



Fig. 9. — A. Bvpe male reproductive organs of a 



Conger Eel thyrty mches in length, 



i natural size. 

 a. Intestinal canal. 

 d', upper, d", middle, d'", lower portion 



of the liver, which has heen thrown 



to one side. 

 /. Air-bladder. 

 g. Gall-bladder. 



A. Anal aperture. 



ii, 12, is, U. -Folds of the left spermary. 

 fci, Ala, Jcs, k4, As. ITolds of the right sper- 

 mary. 

 I. Seminal ponch, 

 m. TTrinpiy bladder. 

 p. Skinny covering of the spermary. 



B. Spermatozoa. 



Fig. 10. — C\ Undeveloped reproductive organ of a female 

 Conger Eel thirty-four inches long, J nat- 



a. Stomach. 



b. Cceual ai)pendage. 



c. Spleen. 



d. Liver. 



e. Ei^ht ovary. 

 e'. Lelt ovary.' 

 /. Aii-hladder. 

 g. Gall-bliidder. 

 ft. Anal apeiture. 

 m. TJ* inary bladder. 

 p. End of left ovary. 



necessary that a ripe male Eel should be found in order to settle forever the question of the sexes 

 of the Eel. Up to this time all efforts have failed to reach the desired result. The histiological 

 investigations of the Syrskian organs pursued by S. Freud render it more probable that these were 

 young roes; yet there remained all the time a doubt, since the spermatozoa had not been actually 

 42 F 



