498 DR DAVY’S FRAGMENTARY NOTES ON THE 
ance. It contained a considerable quantity of white, a pretty large yolk, and an 
" embryo about 13 inch long. Large vessels passed from the yolk by the cord to 
the embryo. About one half of the yolk’s proper membrane, at each side of the 
cord, at its margin, was beautifully vascular. The eyes of the embryo were 
large; the fins very small—only just appearing on the back, the pectoral more 
distinct. The branchial filaments were long, and of a bright red. Besides these 
filaments there were others similar, proceeding from the head, its back part, and 
also from each side of the abdomen, in a line extending from the pectoral fin.* 
Each filament—the branchial are specially mentioned—on careful examination 
with a lens, was found to contain four blood-vessels terminating in loops. 
In a fish procured on the 15th May, of about the same size as the last, two 
eggs were found in each uterine cavity, with an embryo attached to each. The 
ova and embryos were contained in one common, very delicate, and transparent 
shell. Each embryo was in the same stage of development; each about three- 
quarters of an inch long. Viewed with a magnifying glass, its eyes were distinct 
and proportionally large; they were almost colourless, with hardly a trace of a 
pupil. The mouth was proportionally large, and apparently expanded wide. It 
gave the idea of the jaws being formed rather than the mouth itself. The 
branchial cartilages were distinct. Two or three short filaments were pendant 
from them on each side. Close to where the umbilical cord entered was a red 
spot—the heart. A vessel carrying red blood extended from it to the tail, and 
returned. The pectoral fins were small, the dorsal only just appearing, the tail 
gradually tapering. An attempt was made to lay open the cavity of the abdomen, 
but it failed, though using a very delicate and sharp scalpel, owing to the great 
tenderness of the parts,—it was torn rather than cut. The cartilaginous skeleton 
throughout seemed to be formed. The ovaries contained ova of different sizes ; 
the largest were about the size of large cherries, the smallest about the size of 
a millet seed. 
Another fish, also of about the same size as the two preceding, was obtained on 
the 13th June. Two eggs were found in each uterine cavity, with an embryo 
attached to each, in about the same stage of development as the last mentioned. 
Besides the branchial filaments, there were two filaments proceeding from the 
head, just behind the spiracula,—the water passages. 
4. Of the Squalus Carcharias.—On a voyage to Ceylon, when within the 
tropics, an opportunity occurred of making a hasty examination of two gravid 
fish of this kind. In the uterine cavity of one, designated a small shark, taken 
in Lat. 8° 23’ N., four foetal fish were found, each about a foot long, with “a 
placenta” attached to each. From three the placenta was immediately removed, — 
—cut or torn off. These fish died almost instantly. The one from which it — 
* See Plate XXIL,, fig. 7. ing 

