REPORT ON SPIRULA. 
27 
absolutely stuffed with eggs pressed one against the other. The oviduct passes under 
the branchio-cardiac vessel (PI. IV. fig 4, od.), that is to say, on the dorsal side of this, 
as in the (Egopsids ( Ommatostrephes , Onychoteuthis, Enoploteuthis, &c.). Near its 
extremity it is inflected towards the median line (Fig. R) and there presents a swollen 
oviducal gland, of an arched form (PL IV. fig. 5), with parallel striae (Fig. R, vi). 
Finally, the oviduct opens immediately after, obliquely (its opening being anterior, 
whilst its extremity is directed transversely near the axis), on the left side of the renal 
orifice almost at the same level (Fig. R, vii). 
4. Nidamental Glands. —Quite behind the pallial cavity, upon the ventral surface 
of the visceral mass, there is on each side of the ink gland (PL I. fig. 7) a swollen 
nidamental gland, of an irregular ovoid form, with the long axis oblique, with a radial 
appearance and leaved structure (Fig. C, iv ; Pl. I. fig. 6 ; PL II. fig. 1 ; and PL IV. fig. 
1, n.g.), as in the majority of Decapods. 
Before the nidamental glands, and partially under their anterior portion, there 
Fig. U. — Transverse section of an accessory nidamental 
gland of Spvrula reticulata ; x 18. i, ventral side ; ii, 
glandular pore. 
Fig. V.—Transverse section of an ovarian 
egg of Spirula reticulata ; x 100. i, 
vitelligenous follicle; ii, egg substance. 
exist in the specimens procured by the Challenger (PL I. fig. 7, x), by the “Blake” 
(Pl. II. figs. 1, 2, x), and by Professor Giard (Fig. C, iii), prominences forming full com¬ 
pact organs almost in contact, the one with the other, on the median line. These 
prominences cover the kidneys, described above, but have not any relation with them ; 
they can be taken away without the renal cavities being opened, and therefore belong 
to the integuments. 
Their structure (in the specimen, imperfectly prepared, which has been examined) 
reveals sufficiently the character and glandular function of these organs (Fig. U). They 
are formed of numerous cmca opening on the ventral surface by little pores. Besides 
their structure, their situation determines them to be accessory nidamental glands 
(compare specially a young Sepia 1 )', the fact that these organs have not been 
noticed in the Spirulse already described need not astonish us, and we may suppose that 
1 Brock, Ueber die Geschlechtsorgane der Cephalopoden ( Zeitscli. /. wiss. Zool., Bd. xxxii. pl. iii. fig. 
28, 1879). 
