150 



DE. COBBOED ON THE EYE OF THE COD-FISH. 



occurrence, and I have the satisfaction of knowing that they were 

 in the first instance witnessed by other microscopical observers. 

 The bacillar prolongations continue to extend themselves ; an outer 

 capsule of the twin-cone (represented at d), which normally 

 binds the halves together, very soon gives way, and the divisions 

 next exhibit the appearance seen at e. In some cases the half- 

 cones do not entirely lose their original truncated figure, and (as 

 at f) the bacillar filaments, with their investing sacs, are pro- 

 longed downwards and outwards in the form of a cylinder. Most 

 commonly, I might almost say invariably, the ends of the prolon- 

 gations curve outwards, each in the form of a hook, as shown in 

 all the three last figures alluded to, and still more significantly in 

 the illustration marked A, where the capsule of the twin-cone and 

 the sac of the bacillar filaments have altogether disappeared, 

 each half-cone having at the same time undergone a marked change 

 of form. This gradual disappearance of the saccular extension of 

 the twin-cone capsule around the filament may be seen taking 

 place whilst the cones are under examination (as on the right of 

 the cone marked/ 1 ) ; and now also the two halves frequently sepa- 

 rate (as at I and portions of the capsule sometimes remaining 

 partially separated. Occasionally some of these phenomena occur 

 independently, the half-cones remaining united, the central line 

 of separation only becoming uneven or sinuous (k) ; whilst at other 

 times the distortion is so peculiar, that the combined halves re- 

 semble a plant-stomate with an interspace between them (i). In 

 all cases the bacillar filaments are liable to break up at different 

 places, but they are most commonly detached at their points of 

 connexion with the twin-cone. Whilst watching the cone marked 

 i, the decussating appendages here figured floated off, along with 

 the granular particles, which were carried past it in a continuous 

 stream. In one instance only have I observed that great exten- 

 sion of the filament which I take to be the complete unfolding 

 and development of this peculiar appendage ; and in this case, only 

 tlx: right half of the cone came under notice (w). After the sepa- 

 ration of tin; filaments the half-cones undergo all manner of changes 

 of form, and fcliey nil imately split up longitudinally and disintegrate. 

 Thus, the halves marked n and o have a regular oval figure, but 

 fche granular contents arc seen to bo enclosed in a separate enve- 

 lope of a pear-shaped form. At p and q they have assumed a 

 rounded out line, and at r and * have broken up lengthwise, leaving 

 m the Latter a hollow centre, owing probably to the escape of the 

 L l dense albuminous molecular matter which normally occupies 



