Philosophical transactions, Vol. L. Part II. For the year 1758.: Giving some account of the present undertakings, studies, and labours, of the ingenious, in many considerable parts of the world.Various
History
Philosophical transactions, Vol. L. Part II. For the year 1758.: Giving some account of the present undertakings, studies, and labours, of the ingenious, in many considerable parts of the world.
Various
Science -- Periodicals
On that side of the body opposite to the eyes, and which therefore may
be termed the belly-part, there appears a transverse slit or opening
in the skin, not in a strait line, but a little semicircular; from the
anterior part whereof a tube or pipe proceeds, about one third of an
inch in length, smaller at the extremity, where it opens with a round
orifice, than at the base, and reaching to within a small distance of
the arms. As both the Cuttle-fish and Calamary have a pipe nearly in
the same situation, though somewhat different in figure, through which
they occasionally discharge an inky liquor, and some writers say the
fæces also, it is probable the pipe in this animal may serve to a like
purpose; and as the body of the Calamary is included in a case, the
slit across the body of this animal shews its belly part to have also
a sort of case, though on its back there is no separation as in the
Calamary.
Out of the aforesaid slit or opening a bag issues with a very slender
neck, extending towards the tail, and enlarging gradually to its end.
This bag is above half the length of the body, and appears like another
body appendant thereto. I should be intirely at a loss concerning
this bag, did not some passages in Mr. Turberville Needham’s curious
observations on the milt vessels of the Calamary enable me to form some
conjectures about its use.
Having dissected several Calamaries on the coast of Portugal, without
the least indication of milt or roe, and consequently without knowing
which were male or female, he was much surprised (about the middle
of the month of December) to find a new vessel forming itself in an
obvious part, and replete with a milky juice. This was an oval bag, in
which the milt vessels formed themselves gradually, the bag unfolding
as these framed and disposed themselves in bundles. Before that time
he had observed two collateral tubes, which are alike in both sexes;
but a regular progress in the expansion of the milt-bag and formation
of the milt-vessels had not presented itself before. Those tubes till
then appeared open at one extremity, much resembling the female parts
of generation in a snail, but did not terminate in a long oval bag
extending in a parallel with the stomach more than half the length of
the fish, as he found them afterwards when the milt vessels that filled
the whole cavity were ripe for ejection. The same ducts without the bag
are found in the female also, perhaps for the deposition of the spawn.
Vid. _Needham’s Microscopical Discoveries, cap._ v.
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