Transactions of the Linnean Society of London 34

THE

T

RANS ACTIONS
OP

THE LINNEAN SOCIETY
OF

LONDON.
VOLUME XX

LONDON:
PRINTED BV RICHARD TAYLOR, RED LION COURT, FLEET STREET:

SOLD AT THE SOCIETY'S HOUSE, SOHO-SQUARE

;

AND BY LONGMAN, BROWN, GREEN, AND LONGMANS, PATERNOSTER-ROW
AND WILLIAM WOOD, TAVISTOCK-STREET, COVENT-GARDEN.

/SUXc>

— MDCCCLI.

;

CONTENTS.

PART I.— 1846.
I.

On

the Development of the

Griffith, Esq., F.L.S.
F.R.S., F.L.S. 8^c
II.

Some Observations upon
parasitic upon

Ovulum

in Avicennia.

By

the late

William

Communicated by R. H. Solly, Esq.,

Sgc.

page

1

new Species of Hectocotyle,
D. Ch., and Argonauta Argo,

the Structure of two

Tremoctopus violaceus,

with an Exposition of the Hypothesis that these Hectocotylae are
the Males of the Cephalopoda upon which they are found.
By A. Kol-

Linn.

;

liker, Professor of Physiology and Comparative
versity

of Zurich.

Anatomy in the UniCommunicated by Robert Brown, Esq., V.P.L.S.
9

Sgc
III.

Descriptions of some unpublished Species of Plants from North-PVestern
India.

By M. Pakenham Edgeworth,

Esq., F.L.S.,

Bengal Civil Ser23

vice

IV.

On

the Indian Species of Balanophora,

Balanophoreae.
V.

On

By

and on a new Genus of

the

the lateWiLhiAM Griffith, Esq., F.L.S. S^c.

Agaricus crinitus, Linn., and some allied Species.
Berkeley, M.J., F.L.S. 8fc

By

Family
93

the Rev,

.

M.

J.

109

VI. Caricis Species novce, vel minus cognitce. Auctore Francisco Boott, M.D.,
S.L.S. 8sc
115
VII. Remarks on the Examination of some Fossil JVoods, which tend to elucidate the Structure of certain Tissues in the recent Plant.

John Quekett,

Esq., F.L.S. 5fc

VIII. Descriptions of ChB\c\6\{Q&.

By

By Edwin
149

Francis Walker, Esq., F.L.S. ^c. 153


CONTENTS.

vi

PART
An Enumeration

IX.

of the Plants of the Galapagos Archipelago ; with Descriptions of those which are new.
By Joseph Dalton Hooker, Esq.,

M.D., F.L.S.
X.

II.— 1847.

On

page 163

S^c

the Vegetation of the

Galapagos Archipelago, as compared with that
of some other Tropical Islands and of the Continent of America.
By
Joseph Dalton Hooker, Esq., M.D., F.R.S., F.L.S. <^c.
235
.

XI.

On

the Ainbrosinia ciliata of Roxburgh.

Esq., F.L.S.
Use.

XII.

On

the

8sc.

By

the late

.

.

William Griffith,

Communicated hy R. H. Solly, Esq., F.R.S., F.L.S.
263

Aqueous Vapour expelled from Bee-hives.

By George Newport,

Esq., F.R.S., Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons, Sfc.

Commu-

nicated by the Secretary

XIII. Note on the Generation of Aphides.

277

By George Newport, Esq., F.R.S.,

Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons,

8gc.

Communicated by

281

Secretary

XIV. Description of the Asafoetida Plant of Central Asia.
coner, M.D., F.L.S. 8fc

XV. Account

Hugh
XVI.

On

q/"

the

By Hugh

Fal285

Gamoplexis, an undescribed Genus of Orchideous Plants.

Falconer, M.D., F.L.S. S^c

By
293

Natural History, Anatomy and Development of the Oil Beetle,
Meloe, more especially of Meloe cicatricosus. Leach.
By George
the

Newport, F.R.S., F.L.S., Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons, S^c.
First Memoir. The Natural History of Meloe
297

—

XVII. The Natural History, Anatomy, and Development q/" Meloe {continued).
By George Newport, Esq., F.R.S., F.L.S. 8(c. Second Memoir. The
History and General Anatomy of Meloe, and its Affinities, compared

—

with those of the Strepsiptera and Anoplura, with reference
nexion which exists between Structure, Function, and Instinct

to the con.

.321


CONTENTS.

PART
XVIII. Note on Samara
F.L.S.

8gc.,

vii

III.— 1851.

G. A. Walker-Arnott, Esq., LL.D.,
Regius Professor of Botany in the University of GlasIseta,

Linn.

By

P^g^ 359

gow

XIX. On a new Genus of Plants of
MiERs, Esq., F.R.S., F.L.S.

XX. On

the Family of Burmanniaceae.

373

&!c

Jansonia, a new Genus of Leguminosse,

By Mr. Richard

By John

from

fVestern Australia.

383

Kippist, Lihr. L.S. 8^c

XXI. On

the Structure of the Ascidia

XXII. On

the Impregnation of Dischidia.

and Stomata of Dischidia Rafflesiana,
Wall. By the /«^e William Griffith, Esq., F.L.S. 387
by R. H. Solly, Esq., F.R.S., F.L.S. 8fc

F.L.S.

8fc.

Communicated

By

the late

William Griffith,

by R.BROwfi, Esq., P^.P.L.S.

XXIII. On Athalaraia, a new Genus of Marcliantiese.
M.D.,

Esq.,

XXIV. On

.

.391

By Hugh

F.R.S., F.L.S., Superintendent of the

Company s Botanic Garden

Sfc.

Esq.,

Falconer,
Hon. East India

at Calcutta, 8fc

397

the early Stages of Development of Lenianea fluviatilis, Agardh.

G. H. K. Thwaites, Esq., Lecturer on Botany and Vegetable PhyCommunicated by the Rev. M. J.
siology at the Bristol Medical School.

By

399

Berkeley, F.L.S.

XXV. On

Meliantheae, a new Natural Order, proposed and defined by J. E.
Planchon, Docteur-es-Sciences. Communicated by the Secretary 403
.

XXVI. On

the

Insects.

XXVII. On

Formation and Use of the Air-sacs and Dilated Trachece

By George Newport,

Esq., F.R.S., F.L.S. 8^c.

.

.

in

.419

of Pteronarcys regalis, Newm. : with
a Postscript, containing Descriptions of some American Perlidse, together'
with Notes on their Habits. By George Newport, Esq., F.R.S., F.L.S.
8fc

the

Anatomy and

Affinities

425

CONTENTS.

viii

XX VII J.

Descriptions of some

new Species of Athyreiis, a Genus of Lamellicorri

J.

O. Westwood, Esq., F.L.S. 8^c

XXIX. Some Account

of an undescribed Fossil Fruit.

Beetles.

By

Esq., D.C.L., F.R.S.,

XXX.

F.P.L.S

pag;e

45H

By Robert Brown,
469

Extracts from the Minute-Book of the Linnean Society of London 477

Catalogue of the Library of the Linnean Society

483

List of Donors to the Library of the Linnean Society

499

Donations

to the

Museum of the Linnean

Society

505


\

THE

TRANSACTIONS
OF

THE LINNEAN SOCIETY
OF

LONDON.

VOLUME
PART THE

XX.

FIRST.

LONDON:
PRINTED BY RICHARD AND JOHN

E.

TAYLOR, RE» LION COURT, FLEET STREET:

SOLD AT THE SOCIETY'S HOUSE, SOHO-SQUARE;
AND BY LONGMAN, BROWN, GREEN, AND LONGMANS, PATERNOSTER-ROW;
AND WILLIAM WOOD, TAVISTOCK-STREET, COVENT-GARDEN.

MDCCCXLVI.

X

I


CONTENTS.

I.

On

Griffith, Esq., F.L.S.
F.R.S., L.S. Ssc.Ssc

Some Observations upon

II.

Ovulum

the Development of the

S^c. 8gc.

in Avicennia.

By

the late

William

Communicated by R. H. Solly,

Esq.,
1

page

new Species of Hectocotyle,
D. Ch., and Argonauta Argo,

the Structure of two

parasitic upon Tretnoctopiis violaceus,

with an Exposition of the Hypothesis that these Hectocotylae are
the Males of the Cephalopoda upon which they are found.
By A. KolLinn.

;

LiKER, Professor of Physiology and Comparative
sity

of Zurich.

Anatomy in the UniverCommunicated by Robert Brown, Esq., f-^.P.L.S. 8^c.
9

^c
Descriptions of some unpublished Species of Plants

III.

India.

By M. Pakenham Edgeworth,

vice

On

IV.

On

,

Bengal Civil Ser23

and on a new Genus of the Family
the lateWihLiAM Griffith, Esq., F.L.S. (^c.8fc.
93

the Indian Species of Balanophora,

By

Agai'icus crinitus, Linn., and some allied Species.

Berkeley, M.Jl., F.L.S.

S.L.S.^c,

Remarks on

8fc.

By

the Rev.

M.

J.

109

8fc. bfc

VI. Caricis Species novce, vel minus cognitae.

VII.

Esq., F.L.S.

,

Balanophorese.

V.

from North- Western

Auctore Francisco Boott, M.D.,
J15

.

the Examination of some Fossil Woods, which tend to eluci-

date the Structure of certain Tissues in the recent Plant.

John Quekett,

By Edwin

Esq., F.L.S. 8^c

VIII. Descriptions of Cha\c\dites.

By

149
Frat^cis

Walker,

Esq., F.L.S. ^c.

153



/c/i^^

^:


MJiig-"

I

—

I

ii_


TRANSACTIONS
OF

THE LINNEAN SOCIETY.

I.

On

Ovulum

the Development of the

Griffith, Esq., F.L.S.
F.R.S., L.S.

8gc.

in Avicennia.

By

the late

William

Communicated hy R. H. Solly, Esq.,

Sgc.

8sc. 8sc.

Read November

19th, 1844.

In

connexion with the development of the seed and embryo in Santalum

and Osyris, the following account of the development of the same parts in
Avicennia may not be altogether misplaced for the placentation is almost
;

precisely the

place

;

and

cleus or

same

the

in all the

same

embryo

posterior elongation of the embryo-sac takes
is,

at least

when matured,

external to the nu-

body of the ovulum.

The ovula

oi Avicennia appear to

in appearance the

&c. (Tab.

The

;

I.

first

same bodies

in

me

to

be nucleary: they closely resemble

Santalum, Osyris,

Schcejrfia,

Olax, Congea,

figs. 1,2.)

change observed takes place

in the central tissue of the

which appears to become of a denser nature than the

rest,

ovulum,

the density gradually

extending to near the apex of the ovulum, in which, at a period antecedent to
fecundation, the ernbryo-sac will be found. This etnbryo-sac appeared in most
instances to be a

membranous

sac with an enlarged apex or head, contained

within the apex of the nucleus, and a subcylindrical body, extending backwards

a short way to the termination of the dense central tissue, into which at this
period a vascular fascicle
VOL. XX.

is

seen to be extended (Tab.

B

I.

figs. 3, 4.).


2

Mr. Griffith on

The

first

the Development of the Ovitlum in Avicennia.

change, subsequent to the application of the pollen-tubes to the

apex of the sac, appeared to consist of the usual preparatory steps in the
mation of cellular tissue (Tab. I. fig. 5.).

The next change observed was one
which now exhibited, as

it

;

affecting the figure of the sac itself,

were, a short prolongation posteriorly in the direc-

tion of the axis of the ovulum,

dense central tissue

for-

or, in

and consequently

in exact relation with the

other words, instead of being straight,

it

now

appeared curved at its anterior extremity. The subcylindrical body of the

sac was also observed to have become prolonged posteriorly within the inner
side of the

ovulum (Tab.

I. figs. 6, 7-)-

That half of the dilated head of the embryo-sac next the short central prolongation was at this period observed to be filled with rudimentary cellular

young albumen. As this albuminous tissue increases, it first occupies
the whole of the original head of the sac, which then appears to become
tissue or

enlarged, and then to pass out of the apex of the
to

which direction

its

At the same time the

The albuminous
towards

subsequent enlargement

is

posterior prolongation of the

tissue having attained

its centre,

ovulum (Tab.

some

figs. 8, 9.),

almost entirely confined.

body of the sac continues.

size, will

and corresponding with the

I.

be found to present

axis of the

ovulum and that

of the application of the pollen-tubes, the rudiments of the future

(Tab.

embryo

I. fig. 9.).

At a subsequent period the albuminous mass, being considerably increased
in size, presented

was found

on

anterior surface a curved furrow or groove, which

its

young emAt this
12.).

to correspond with the points of the cotyledons of the

now

considerably increased in size (Tab. I. figs. 11,
little change,
period the part of the sac within the ovulum has undergone
time passed
except the posterior (lateral) prolongation, which has by this
back into the placenta, within which it is divided in a digitate irregular
bryo,

manner (Tab. I. fig. 10.).
The next stage presented

the points of the cotyledons quite

naked

(/. e.

external to any part of the seed), they having protruded through the groove
above mentioned. As the embryo increases in size the cotyledons become

-more and more exposed the part of the albumen below the line of exsertion
of the cotyledons does not undergo much change; but that part above the
:


Mr. Griffith on

same

line,

the Development of the

Ovulum

3

in Avicennia.

or rather between the inner cotyledon and body of the ovulum,

becomes enlarged and

flattened almost into a

membrane

and even when the

;

cotyledons are as long as the placenta, this part of the albuminous tissue
equals them in length (Tab.

The mature embryo, with
bedded
of the

in the

albuminous

albumen

I. fig. 13.).-; ^J^\^

-i

the exception of

is

always im-

may be said to be naked. The upper
much dilated, and almost membranous

tissue,

at this period

is

edges are very irregular (Tab.

;

I. figs.

13

&

part

the

14.).

l^he conduplication of the cotyledons takes place at

much

which

its radicle,

an early period

;

their

even before the protrusion of their points.
The central prolongation of the sac was not observed later than the period
represented by fig. 12. Tab. I., but it is probable from appearances that it is

inequality at a

at length filled with

The

earlier,

albuminous

tissue.

exact distance to which the vascular fascicle at length reaches was not

observed

:

probably

it

extends,

when complete,

prolongation of the sac.
The above observations were

made very

to the apex of the short central

shortly before

my

departure from

they are deficient in several respects but of the mode by which the

embryo becomes external to the seed to so great a degree I can speak with

Malacca

:

;

the requisite confidence.

\

r-^«

''•.

- ",

proceed to offer my remarks on the circumstances detailed above.
elongation of the posterior end of the embryo-sac, occurring as it does

I novi^

The

a plant so different in general organization from those in which it has
hitherto been observed, appears to me remarkable.
It is curious that this

in

prolongation has only been observed in association with a particular form of
the free central placenta, and thus the exact observation of the corresponding

developments in Olax and Congea becomes more desirable than ever.

The shape
is

of the embryo-sac in that stage, represented by fig. 7- Tab. I.,
also worthy of notice
so far as I know, it is the only instance of an
:

embryo-sac prolonged posteriorly, it may be said, from two points of its
surface, or which may not be considered to be in itself a rectilinear body.

The general analogy
lead

me

of the relations of the embryo-sac with the nucleus would

to suppose that the

embryo-sac of Avicennia consisted originally of

that part in the axis of the ovulum, viz. the head or dilated end,

B 2

and what

I


Mr. Griffith on

4

the

Development of the Ovulum

in

Avicennia.

have called the short central prolongation. But what has been recorded of
Santalacece (and the whole of my observations on Avicennia) is opposed to
this

;

for in all the instances observed, the posterior prolongation

is

a pro-

longation of the posterior end of the sac itself, which obviously would not be
the case if the ordinary relations of embryo-sacs to their nuclei existed in
j4vicennia.

Another non-analogous instance may be observed in the gradual protrusion
outwards of the young albumen, which is assumable as being at one period
entirely interior to the nucleus or ovulum.

stances in which the

albumen

is

In

all

the really analogous in-

exterior to the ovulum,

that part of the embryo-sac in which

it is

always exterior,

it is

developed being protruded long
before any albuminous tissue has been developed, which indeed is almost
always subsequent to fecundation properly speaking, viz. the completion of
certain relations between the anterior end of the pollen-tube and the embryosac.

A

third non-analogous instance seems to

protrusion of the cotyledons.
is

to

not, perhaps,

uncommon

;

me

presented by the exsertion or

Protrusion of the radicular end of the embryo
but in these cases it may be difficult to ascertain

what extent the protrusion may be due

to germination.

In Cryptocoryne ciliata {Ambrosinia ciliata, Roxb.) however the protrusion
takes place long before the cotyledon has acquired its full growth, up to
which period moreover it retains its firm fleshy substance. In a Malacca
subgeneric form of Cryptocoryne, in which the margins of the spatha cohere
into a tube to a great extent, although the plumula is still of considerable size,
no protrusion whatever takes place. By the peculiar way in which this is per-

formed the embryo becomes almost entirely naked, without however changing
the direction it would have had, had it been developed, as it so generally is,
within the body of the seed.
of the

young embryo, which

early period, for

it

It is curious that the obliquity in the direction
is still

more extraordinary, takes place

at a very

forms an obtuse angle with the line of the axis of the

ovulum and application of the pollen-tubes before there is any indication of

cotyledons. For this I do not see any appreciable reason, mechanical or otherwise,

would perhaps be amiss to overlook the comparative density
of the ovulum in endeavouring to account for the protrusion of

though

of the axis

it


Mr. Griffith on

Ovulum

the Development of the

in Avicennia.

6

the albumen, and perhaps for the production of the lateral posterior prolongation.

The extension

of the vascular fascicle so far into what has been considered

the ovulum, leads

me

to

doubt the

real extent of this organ.

I

cannot recall

which the vascular supply of the ovulum is prolonged
into the substance of the nucleus. A similar doubt is suggested by the extent
to

mind any instance

in

of the head of the embryo-sac inside the

ovulum

the development of the albumen and embryo,

;

is

for this sac in general,

made gradually

during

to encroach

by which this originally solid cellular body becomes geneor possibly to be
rally reduced to a mere cellular membranous covering,
But whatever may be the real extent of the ovulum, the
entirely obliterated.
the nucleus,

upon

only physiologically distinguishable from the placenta, the co-existence of a vascular fascicle with the posterior prolongation
in Avicennia seems to me to be against the opinion of these curious extensions
nucleary form of which

is

being of a chalazal nature.
I was not able to ascertain clearly the absolute relations with the embryosac established by the pollen-tube after it had reached the sac, still less the
absolute relations which the end of the pollen-tube bore to the nascent embryo.
All the indications however furnished by my sketches are in favour of the

penetration of the pollen-tube into the sac, as far as the spot in which the

embryo makes

its first

appearance.

Attention to a peculiarity between the direction of the unimpregnated ovulum and that of the seed in Avicennia was first pointed out by Mr. Brown in
his

'

Prodromus*,' in which

it is

ascribed to the fecundated ovulum becoming

This would manifestly make the radicle superior but if the ovulum
were of the same nature as in Myoporince, to which Mr. Brown's remarks
erect.

;

would as obviously make the radicle inferior. In a subsequent account given by Mr. Brown through Dr. Wallichf, the erection of
the seed is attributed to an elongation upwards of the body of the seed, the

seem

to refer,

it

apex maintaining its original (inferior) situation.
The most important difference between this last account and that which I

(true)

have attempted to give,

is,

that I find the embryo only to be erect

of the ovulum (the nucleus), from which
*

Op.

cit.,

ed. Nees, p. 374.

it is

f

;

one part

assumable the seed-coat might

PI- Asiat.

Rar.

iii.

pp. 44, 45.


6

Mr. Griffith on

Ovulum

the Development of the

in Avicennia.

have been, partly at least, derived, suffering no change in direction whatever,
and the other, from which the albuminous covering might have equally resulted,
only a partial one. The embryo also, in its earlier stages of development, undergoes a degree of change of direction, but only sufficient to enable it to pass
up outside the ovulum, in the same direction it would have maintained had it

been ordinarily developed.

EXPLANATION OF THE PLATE.
Tab.

I.

Avicennia resinifera, Forst. fide Jack, and Av. intermedia, GrifF.
Fig.

1.

MSS.*

Placenta and ovula, at an early period before expansion of flower, and before the
corolla exceeds the calyx in length (species not noted).

Fig. 2. Longitudinal section of one of the ovula of the
tissue appears to be

Fig. 3.

same

;

the subsequent dense central

commenced.

an ovulum, more advanced ; the apex of the embryo-sac is
to the apex of the ovulum, and its body cylindrical,
reaching to the central

Longitudinal section of

close

dense tissue {A. resinifera).
Fig. 4.
Fig. 5.

Embryo-sac of the same, separated.
Embryo-sac of an ovulum at the period
its

apex:

alter the application of the
pollen-tubes to

—magnified about 500 times {A.

Fig. 6. Longitudinal section of an
style, the

fall

is

pollen-tube
posteriorly

;

resinifera).

ovulum of the same

after

blackening of the apex of the

of the corolla, and evident enlargement of the ovarium

The embryo-sac

seen attached.

otherwise there

is little

Fig. 7« Longitudinal section of an ovulum, a

change in

little

;

part of a

enlarged, and extends further
the ovulum.
is

more advanced. The embryo-sac

is

more

prolonged posteriorly, and also presents a short prolongation corresponding with
It is

still

interior to the

ovulum ; the

and ovula {A. intermedia)

at a

more advanced

stage

the axis of the ovulum.

commenced
Fig. 8. Placenta

aborted ; the fertilized one

its

dilated

apex has

to be cellular.

is

:

three of the ovula have

seen laterally, and a protuberance

(a) is visible

from

apex.

* A. intermedia

is

A. tomentosa and A.

founded on a Malacca plant altogether intermediate between what appears to be
resinifera.

the Development of the

Mr. Griffith on

of an
Fig. 9. Longitudinal section

protuberance of

tube

is still

ovulum of this period

fig. 8.) is

now

in attachment.

the end, which

:

Avicennia.

in

7

young albuminous mass

the

disc represents the

(the

A pollen-

seen to be partly exterior to the ovulum.

The

the whole
Fig. 10. Part of the ovulum,

Ovulum

rudimentary embryo.

now

of the posterior lateral elongation,

digitate at

confined in the placenta, and once-branched also within the

is

ovulum, the central or

axile prolongation, the

now almost

entirely exserted albu-

This figure does not represent a section of the albumi-

men, and the embryo.
nous mass, but of the body of the ovulum

alone, one side of

to expose the albumen.
Placenta
(entire) of an ovarium some time after fecundation,
Fig. 11.

centa,

b, b.

Barren ovula.

c.

showing the furrow or chink ?

Fecundated ovulum.

d.

which was

a.

Apex

sliced off

of the pla-

Exserted albuminous mass,

by which the points of the cotyledons will pass out

{A. intermedia).

Fig.

1 2.

Fecundated ovulum ; longitudinal section through the body of the nucleus, but not
through the albuminous mass the tips of the cotyledons reach the furrow or

:

chink.
Fig. 13.

An

entire placenta of ^. resinifera at a

same references ;
d.

Fig. 14.

the large inner

Young

e.

more advanced period: the

letters

have the

shows the lower edge of the former furrow, now an opening ;

Up or edge with

seed and embryo

irregular margins overlapping the cotyledons.

about the same period of development

which

:

the embryo

is

viewed obliquely, a. Body of the ovulum or
b. Fleshy part of the exserted albuminous mass.
nucleus,
c. Lower or outer
the
the
fissure
which
have
d. Inner or upper,
of
by
cotyledons
protruded,
edge

removed from the

seed,

now membranous,

cellular

is

edge of the same.



Tro}i».

Zimt Soc Jh/'.
.

XX tah. Jjb.

ff.

a
n.

WOriiTuAJflm.

14.

EmcUclh,


••

'm

•ft;-.;:-:

%


9

L

II.

Some Observations upon
parasitic upon

]

new Species of Hectocotyle,
D. Ch., and Argonauta Argo, Linn.

the Structure of two

Tremoctopus violaceus,

;

with an Exposition of the Hypothesis that these Hectocotylae are the Males

of the Cephalopoda upon which they are found.
fessor of Physiology and Comparative

Anatomy

A. Kolltker, Pro-

in the University

Communicated by Robert Brown, Esq., V.P.L.S.
Read April 15th and May

By

of Zurich.

8^c. 8^c.

6th, 1845.

Whilst visiting Messina and Naples during the summer of

1842, 1 found

two worms resembling the Hectocotyle Octopodis, described by Cuvier as found
upon the Octopus granulosus, Lam.

;

the one upon the Tremoctopus violaceus,

Delle Chiaje (Octopus velifer, F6r.), the other upon the Argonauta Argo, L. At
first sight I took them for epizootic worms, to which, from their white colour

and numerous suckers, they bore a great resemblance but when I examined
them more accurately, I met with so many peculiarities, a few of which I will
;

here mention, namely the existence of a heart, arteries and veins, branchiae, and
coloured contractile pigment-cells, that at length I was compelled to abandon

Proceeding with my examinations, I soon found that the animals
were all males and remembering that that sex of the Argonauta and Tremoctopus was not as yet known, I supposed that I had discovered the males of
that idea.

;

those Cephalopoda.

upon

I

must confess

that at first I did not place

this conjecture, for the great dissimilarity

surprised

me

However, as

so
I

to strengthen

much

my

my

it

to be well-founded.

researches, I found

more and more

supposition, so that finally I was led to regard

But before proceeding

reliance

between the supposed sexes

that I scarcely dared to believe

proceeded further with

much

it

as very

arguments on which I formed
my opinion, I propose to give a slight sketch of my anatomical researches
with respect to the above-mentioned animals.
probable.

VOL. XX.

to submit the

c


Prof. KoLLiKER on the Structure of

10

Description of the Hectocotyle q/'Tremoctopus violaceus.

External Form.

1.

This animal very
has described in the

much
'

resembles the Hectocotyle Octopodis, which Cuvier
Annales des Sciences Naturelles' for the year 1829*, the

body being long, worm-like, and provided with two rows
ventral surface, the posterior short and of an oval shape ;

anterior part of the

of suckers on

its

but independently of

its

being

much

smaller,

it differs

also at first sight

from

Octopodis in the back being fringed with a great number of little branchial
appendages, and the posterior extremity having a long process.

H.

The

body varies in length from 1^1 f of an inch, is
Without
thickest in the middle, and diminishes towards both extremities.
the branchiae and suckers it would be nearly cylindrical, but in the natural
anterior part of the

almost quadrangular, while that immediately
behind is fiat, and has sharp margins. Its colour is almost entirely pure white
it exhibits however at the branchiae some azure tints, and here and there some
state the cephalic portion

is

;

yellowish hues

;

there are also

some remarkable spots on the back, of which

The upper surface of this
portion the branchial appendages and the

I

shall speak presently.

anterior part bears in its

cephalic

spots just mentioned

;

the

upper surface of the posterior portion, on the contrary, is perfectly smooth ;

the spots are arranged in two slightly-irregular rows between the branchiae
along the middle of the back they are circular, about -aV^ of a line in
diameter, of a brown or violet colour, and about 50 in number. The branchial
;

appendages are placed on a low, mantle-like margin, which takes its origin
from the side of the animal between the suckers and the coloured spots the
;

appendages have a conical form, are 1 line long and ^th of a line broad
during life those next to the middle of the back stand vertically erect, the
:

others successively assume a

nearly transversely.

more inclined

The appendages

direction,

and the outermost

lie

are disposed in irregular longitudinal

amounting to about 250 on each side.

The ventral surface of the anterior part is quite smooth in the middle, and
on each of its margins are situated 40 or 4 1
slightly convex from side to side

lines

;

their

number

is

considerable,

;

* Ire S6rie,

t. xviii.

p. 147.


two new Species
suckers, which are disposed alternately,

those of the Tremoctopus

The

o/"

11

Hectocotyle.

and bear the strongest resemblance

to

itself.

posterior part of the

body

is

a large oval sac, of 5 lines in length, to

which the penis is appended. The sac is quite as large as the largest part of
the body, and incloses a great many convolutions of a small canal and one

The

large duct.

penis

is

situated on the abdominal surface,

origin from the foremost part of the oval sac

partly confined in a delicate

contracted or extended

it is

thick,

and curved

;

it is

conical

and partly

its

free,

sheath, which is attached to the

suckers its form and length vary accord-

membranous

ventral aspect between the last six

ing as

:

and takes

;

;

in the first case

in the latter, 7 lines long,

:^

it is

^ a line
and nearly

4 lines long,

of a line thick,

straight.
2. Structure.

a. Skin.

The

skin of the animal consists of two layers

;

the exterior

is

the epidermis,

formed by delicate, polygonal cells, of a diameter of 0'018-0"036"', which
contain round nuclei the interior, the corium composed of cellular tissue,
;

the outer fibres of which are disposed longitudinally, and the inner transversely.

The coloured

form a very remarkable
each of them is a cell, containing a

spots, already mentioned,

object in the description of the skin

;

nucleus and a great many coloured granules, and exhibits during life the
same curious phaenomenon which R. Wagner has discovered in the pigmentcells of Cephalopoda, viz. a regularly alternate expansion and contraction. As

example just quoted, the colour of the cells varies according as the
granules are assembled together in a mass or scattered about in the expanded
in the

cell.

With regard

proved whether

it

to the

power which

lies in

the contractile

effects these contractions, it is

membrane

of the

cells, as

not yet

Wagner

supposes, or in the contractile cellular tissue which surrounds them, an opinion which I have lately advocated.

have yet to mention some peculiar minute pores which are found on the
anterior part of the ventral surface.
They are arranged in rows of four or
I

five

on each

continuous

side

series.

between the mesial

Each opening

line

and the suckers, thus forming a

is elliptical

in figure, the longest diameter

being 0'024-00I2 P. L., and conducts to a canal of the same

c2

size,

which