74 
FISHES. 
“ In the male the external appendages are the two cylindrical cartilages between the two ventral fins, 
with a considerable nearly longitudinal opening or slit anterior to the roots of the ventrals towards the 
outer side. In a cavity immediately under the skin, to which these slits directly lead, lies a cartila- 
ginous appendage as long as the first-mentioned, but jointed in the middle, and having an expanded and 
rounded extremity. The joint is in the middle, and bends forwards, allowing the appendage to fold 
so as to be received through the longitudinal slit, and lodged in the subcutaneous cavity : the mechanism 
of this joint is so arranged, that when the appendage is extended, it is at the same time raised out of 
the cavity and pointed forwards; and when it is bent, it slips at once within the cavity. The extremity 
of the appendage is composed, first, of an open tube near its centre ; secondly, of narrow folds of 
smooth cartilage ; and lastly of a subsemiorbicular knob, covered with small eminences, and toothed 
round the edges, the teeth being directed backwards when the joint is extended. 
“ Neither of these appendages is to be seen in the female, there being only a very small hollow 
line in the place of the longitudinal slit that receives them in the male. 
“ The testes are two smooth oblong and rounded bodies, (two inches and a quarter in length, and 
one-eighth in breadth,) lying in the anterior part of the abdomen. Their granular glandular texture is 
everywhere closely invested by a fine smooth membrane of a dull reddish colour. One side (that 
towards the spine ?) is somewhat concave, and is marked in the middle with a cicatrix-like spot. 
Very delicate fibres (vessels?) loosely connect the body of the testis with the epididymis, which com- 
mences at the upper and near the anterior part of the body, between it and the vertebrce, and is con- 
tinued backwards along the side of the spine to the anterior part of the kidneys, a little in front of 
the anus ; its foremost portion being covered by the testis, and its hinder by the vesicula seminalis, as it 
is seen in situ, the fish being laid on its back. It is a soft substance, marked with transverse sulci 
formed by processes of the peritoneum, which fills them up and connects their sides. From the anterior 
part of the epididymis, the vas efferens is continued backwards in numerous convolutions, along its 
inner side behind the anterior extremity of the vesicula seminalis, to meet which the vas deferens that is 
now formed turns forwards, and becoming straight and enlarged at the same time, gradually expands 
into the vesicula seminalis. The vesicula seminalis is in the form of a hollow tube, of uniform diameter 
from the one end to the other, tapering slightly at each extremity; it terminates posteriorly in an 
orifice that opens into the cavity surrounding the vent, and immediately behind it. This orifice, the 
vesicula seminales, and the ultimate portion of the vas deferens, contained a gelatinous substance of a 
greenish colour, thickly intermixed with globular bodies of greater consistence, about the size of 
mustard-seeds (semen?). 
“ In the female, the Fallopian tubes are continued in an arch with each other across the spine ; 
or more correctly, the fold which is connected with the uterine glands, and is prolonged into the ovi- 
ducts, is extended anteriorly, and forms an arch with its fellow across the spine in front of the ovaria. 
The ova in the individual examined were rounded, yellowish, and of various sizes, from that of a 
small pea to the size of a boy’s large marble; they were numerous, and hung from the oviducts by 
means of their membrane, between the uterine glands and the middle of the connecting arch on each 
side. The uterine glands are flattened, and have the form of an isosceles triangle, the base being 
directed forwards. At this base the oviduct may be said to enter as it proceeds backwards, and to be 
continued through the gland, dilating immediately on its entrance, and contracting a little on leaving 
it towards the apex or acute angle posteriorly. It is then continued in a wide tube to the space 
around the vent, where each opens separately behind and a little to the outside of the anus. In the 
median line between the orifices, consequently directly behind the vent, and corresponding to the 
opening of the vesicula seminales in the male, is a concavity with a surface of irregular ruga, to which 
a substance, in every respect similar to that contained in the vesicula seminales, adhered and hung 
down. 
“ Two oblong coriaceous black eggs, with large thin and woolly borders, were dredged up in the 
Bay: they evidently belong to this fish. The fishes themselves were taken in the seine.” — C. 
