Introduction. 
During my investigations regarding the nervous system of Myxine, 
I examined a great many specimens of this interesting fish. It 
seemed as if females only came under review, as I could not dis- 
•covera single male, in spite of diligent search. It was not, however, 
until after a visit to Edinburgh (in the autumn of 1886) when I 
had an opportunity of speaking to Mr. Cunningham of the matter, 
and until after the appearance of his interesting paper on the 
generative organs of Myxine, that I devoted more particular study 
to this subject. My investigations have, however, been made only 
incidentally, as my interest was principally absorbed by other 
scientific problems; they are therefore very far from being com- 
plete, and there are, yet, many highly interesting points (e. g. the 
situation of the germinal epithelium ; the origin of the first germinal 
cells and the folicular epithelium etc), which I would otherwise 
have earnestly wished to elucidate. I must therefore crave 
the readers forbearance when I let my investigations appear in 
an incomplete state, caused by the fact that I am just about 
to set out on a scientific Arctic expedition, and it is impossible 
to say when I may be abie to return to my zoological studies. 
As I am convinced, however, that my researches in regard to 
the sexual relations of Myxine contain, in several respects, inter- 
esting features; and as I hope that they may lead other zoologists 
to take up the subject, and may thus, perhaps, contribute, in some 
degree, to the solution of the still involved questions as to herma- 
phroditism and the origin of sexes, I publish the result of my 
investigations, now, rather than wait upon an uncertain future to com- 
plete them, in the hope that they may serve as a guide to others 
in the same field of study. 
In order to trace the development of Myxine, I have made 
numerous attempts to make them breed, or to obtain deposited 
