250 THE REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS OF BDELLOSTOMA, ETC. 



recovered. On the first occasion, March 12th of the current year, the position 

 was lat. 1° 17' N., long. 13° 56 /# 6 W. The depth at which the ova were caught 

 by the line was 30 fathoms. The total depth of the ocean at the spot was 

 2725 fathoms. The other mass of eggs was taken in a similar way, not far off 

 the locality just defined. Thus these eggs were in a pelagic condition, suspended 

 in the water, and freely obeying the ocean current. Mr Rattray states they 

 were very transparent. 



P.S. — Since the above was written I have found that the meroblastic 

 nature of the ovum of Myxine has been actually proved. Fertilised eggs, in 

 which the blastoderm had already begun to spread over the yolk, were examined 

 and described by W. Muller several years ago (Jenaiscke Zeitschrift, Bel. IX.). 

 These eggs were from the collection of the Goteborg Museum, and were 

 obtained at Lysekil in Bohuslan in 1854. W. Muller, however, did not give 

 a correct account of the development of the vitelline membrane and polar 

 threads. 



/^ 



26 JUU 186? 



