MR. H. N. MOSELEY ON THE STRUCTURE OP THE STYLASTERHUE. 
465 
gastropore lies in the interval between these canals ancl the outer surface of the sac of 
the zooid. No canals spring from the under surface of the zooid. 
Gonopliores.- — A fragment of a male specimen of Cryptohelia , obtained off the 
Japanese coast, was examined in a cursory manner, and it was seen that, at first sight 
at least, it resembled Astylus subviridis in the structure of its gonopliores. Unfor- 
tunately it was mislaid, and I have been unable to find it again. 
All other specimens of Cryptohelia available for the examination of the soft struc- 
tures proved to be female only. The ampullae in Cryptohelia are occupied by thin 
walled sacs. Those in connexion with newly-formed cyclo-systems at the tips of the 
branches of the corallum are small, and contain only a few gonopliores in early stages 
(Plate 42, G) ; but those attached to older systems are often of enormous relative 
dimensions, and appear as long reniform bodies (Plate 42, G'), which are almost as 
large as the masses of the cyclo- systems themselves in volume, and contain gonopliores 
in all stages from the very earliest upwards, and one or two mature planuke. 
The early stages in the development of the ovum of Cryptohelia were examined 
in the fresh condition of the soft parts, without decalcification or use of spirit, the 
ampullae being broken open and the gonopliores removed from the freshly-dredged 
coral. 
The earliest stage in the formation of a female gonophore observed is the massing 
together of a small quantity of the endoderm cells of one of the canals of the coenosarc, 
which enter the gonophore sac (Plate 44, fig. 3). In the next stage observed, a cup- 
shaped spadix of endoderm cells is fully formed, the cup being attached to the coeno- 
sarcal canals by a pedicle. In the hollow of the cup rests a fully formed ovum, with a 
well-defined germinal vesicle and spot, its main mass being composed of fine rounded 
particles. Only a single ovum is developed in relation with each spadix. A thin 
reflection of the ectodermal investment of the spadix covers the ovum within its cup 
(Plate 44, fig. 4, E). 
The ova must be in some manner impregnated within the gonophore sac. As 
development proceeds the ovum increases in size, and the germinal vesicle and spot 
disappear, and the ovum appears entirely composed of thickly-set oily globules. At 
the same time the margin of the cup of the spadix, which increases in dimensions in 
accordance with the ovum, becomes divided into a series of small rounded lobes, 
about twelve in number, which embrace the lower part of the ovum. The cells com- 
posing the spadix and its lobes being coloured dark chocolate, the contained colourless 
ovum contrasts strongly with its support in appearance in the fresh condition of the 
structures. 
The ovum, as it enlarges, becomes gradually drawn out into an ovoid form (Plate 
42, G). On further development the margin of the growing spadix becomes fringe- 
like in appearance, the lobes composing it lengthening and becoming forked at their 
extremities (Plate 42, S P). The ovum in this stage is much dilated, and drawn out 
into an elongate ovoid form. Its contents are nearly transparent and highly refractive, 
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