Spermatophoric Mass of the Lobster — MATTHEWS 
367 
spermatophore nor the thickness of its wall 
increases once the walled spermatophore 
enters the enlarged vas deferens. For this 
reason, together with the fact that the secre- 
tion (Fig. 7g) from the epithelium of this 
tube stains identically with the material (<7), 
the deposition of the spermatophoric wall is 
attributed to this tube. 
The walled spermatophore (Fig. 7d), upon 
entering the enlarged vas deferens (Fig. id), 
becomes surrounded by a putty-like matrix 
(Fig. 8h) which is formed largely by the se- 
cretion from the "typhlosole” (Fig. 8c). The 
position of the walled spermatophoric tube 
(Fig. 8g), embedded in the matrix near the 
wall opposite the "typhlosole,” appears ex- 
plainable by the fact that, although the 
glandular epithelium of the peripheral wall 
of the vas deferens may secrete some matrix, 
the glandular epithelium of the "typhlosole” 
secretes most of it, and the extensive pro- 
duction of matrix from this region forces the 
walled spermatophoric tube toward the 
periphery of the organ. There is no evidence 
that the wall of the spermatophore (Fig. 8g) 
is formed by this matrix material. Since the 
hyaline line (Fig. 2g) marks externally the 
position of the internal "typhlosole,” it ap- 
pears hyaline because the dense matrix be- 
tween the "typhlosole” and the wall of the 
vas deferens is here lacking. 
Although in nature the actual process of 
extrusion and adherence of the spermato- 
phoric mass was not observed by the author, 
the process was experimentally performed for 
subsequent observation. While immersed in 
sea water, the vas deferens of a mature male 
P. penicillatus was exposed and pinched with 
forceps. This served as a sufficient stimu- 
lus to cause the extrusion of the spermato- 
phoric mass. This mass was smeared on the 
sternum of a living female, on a piece of 
sternum which had been removed from an 
adult female, and on a clean glass plate. The 
smeared piece of sternum and the smeared 
glass plate were suspended by threads in the 
same aquarium with the artificially smeared 
female. Within the first hour all the smears 
darkened slightly, but even after 14 days this 
darkening had progressed only to a light 
brown color, the masses never attaining the 
hardness or the darkness of the spermato- 
phoric mass found deposited naturally. The 
smear on the isolated pieces of sternum and 
the smear on the glass plate were eagerly 
sought after and eaten by the reef fish, Alectis 
ciliaris (Bloch). The smears apparently dark- 
ened only superficially, for, when viewed 
through the glass, the unexposed surface 
could be seen to retain its putty-like appear- 
ance. Attempts were also made by this fish to 
obtain the smear placed on the living female, 
but she would quickly retreat to a corner of 
the aquarium or otherwise protect the mass 
with the telson of her flexed abdomen. Dur- 
ing the 14 days of observation this female 
made no attempt, however, to remove the 
mass. At the end of this period, the spermato- 
phoric mass was examined carefully and, 
except for a few superficial sand scratches, 
the mass was unaltered. The ovaries were then 
examined and found to be immature. The 
spermatozoa, however, in the artificially ap- 
plied spermatophore were still alive. Although 
this experiment was repeated several times in 
an attempt to obtain a female in which ovu- 
lation was imminent, all efforts failed. In 
those mature females which obviously had 
ovulated, the spermatophoric mass was 
deeply scratched or gouged, and the sperma- 
tophores were devoid of spermatozoa. 
Andrews (1931), working on the Oregon 
crayfish iPotamohius trowhridgei), was con- 
cerned with the manner of liberation of the 
spermatozoa and stated: "... the suggestion 
was made by Leuckart that by the gradual 
change of the wall of the spermatophore, (a 
secretion from the lining cells of the deferent 
duct), a discharge of sperms might be 
caused; but this would need be accurately 
timed. Very likely, as surmised by Meyer, it 
is the action of some secretion of the female 
at the time of laying eggs which induces the 
emptying of the spermatophore." Andrews 
