92 



DR. C. COLLTNGWOOD ON A NEW FOE M 



upon the central parts — an effect more apparent than real, and 

 depending upon the cylindrical form of the mass. Although 

 only half of the original mass was secured, the soft jelly having 

 divided in getting it into the bucket, it had the appearance of an 

 entire body, the fracture of the gelatinous mass not interfering 

 with its symmetry. 



Turning my attention now to the black spots, I at once saw, 

 even without the aid of a lens, that they were egg-sacs containing 

 young Cephalopods. These were extremely active, moving freely 

 in the sacs and contracting their bell-shaped bodies as they 

 leaped about in their narrow chambers. Each egg-sac was per- 

 fectly spherical and transparent, the circumference alone being 

 visible, and was imbedded in the soft gelatinous transparent mass 

 just as is the case with the spawn of the frog. The dark- 

 coloured spots were entirely due to the coloured bodies of the 

 embryo animals, which, in most cases, appeared to be just ready 

 to be extruded. On placing the embryos under the microscope, 

 I found that some of them were almost transparent, and exhibited 

 their internal organization. The external surface of the bell was 

 covered with epithelium of columnar form ; and the same struc- 

 ture also extended over the arms. The bell was covered with 

 dark-coloured spots — which in the most immature specimens 

 were mere minute round specks, becoming in a further advanced 

 condition^irregular and angular as well as of a larger size. The 

 eyes were large and prominent, and seated upon short and thick 

 footstalks, and their dark pigmentary substance was distinctly 

 visible through the transparent bell of the younger individuals. 

 The arms were short, covered with epithelium upon the convex 

 side, and having a few rudimentary acetabula upon their con- 

 cave surfaces. Upon the upper part of the bell, on either side, 

 was a small fin-like projection, visible even in the least-mature 

 specimens. 



Having secured this curious body, and examined its general 

 form and appearance, and placed some of the embryos under the 

 microscope, I was under the necessity of leaving it in a bucket of 

 sea-water for two or three hours. When I returned to it at 

 the expiration of that time, it appeared to have vanished. In 

 some astonishment, I put my hand into the water, and found 

 therein a large mass of soft transparent jelly, entirely invisible in 

 the water. On closer inspection, I discovered that every one of 

 the young embryos had been discharged from its sac, and that they 



