50 



usually broken off near the case. The cavity of the filament is continuous with 

 that of the flask and seems to contain the same opaque fluid. The cavity around 

 the filament is apparently continuous with the cavity between the outer and 

 inner walls of the case , but it contains a transparent fluid , not the granular 

 fluid which fills the space between the walls of the case. 



The measurements of the appended table were taken during July, and are 

 typical , excepting the last. 



Length of squid, 

 (mantle) 



Length of spermato- 

 phore. 



Length of sperm 

 rope. 



115 mm. 



8.5 mm. 



5.5 mm. 



115 mm. 



7.0 mm. 



3.5 mm. 



100 mm. 



6.5 mm. 



3.5 mm. 



150 mm. 



6.5 mm. (few present) 



4.5 mm. 



This table shows that in general the size of the spermatophore varies with 

 the size of the squid. The relative length of the sperm rope varies in different 

 individuals, but the spermatophores present in the sac at any time are essentially 

 alike. The largest squid had probably passed the period of sexual activity. 



The process of formation , transference , and discharge of the spermatophores 

 is not well known. The sperm are packed into a solid thick, colum in the vas 

 deferens , and seem to pass into the vesicula sem.inalis in a small stream or column, 

 for in its second portion they are arranged in a regular, spirally oblique plate, 

 which forms the sperm rope. A sheath , probably the sheath of the sperm rope . 

 is acquired in the first or second portion of the seminal vesicle, and Mabchand 

 finds that the third section of the vesicle secretes the outer case of the sperma- 

 tophore and that in this portion of the gland its proximal (oral) end is foremost. 

 This end of the spermatophore enters the duct of the prostata first thru the 

 appendix and vas efferens. Upon entering the spermatophoric sac , the spermato- 

 phore turns again , and its proximal end is foremost in the sac and emerges first 

 from the penis. The sperm ropes , enclosed in their sheaths , and with the flasks 

 attached are deposited in a closely packed cluster in the depression of the buccal 

 membrane of the female. One can scarcely believe that the penis can be extended 

 to such a length that it protrudes from the mantle and deposits the spermatophores 

 in the buccal pit , and one is tempted to believe that they are deposited with 

 the aid of the hectocotylus. The mechanism of the discharge and the function 

 of the parts of the spermatophore are not understood. The discharged sperma- 



