A Monograph on the Sub-class Cirripedia (Volume 1 of 2): The Lepadidae; Or, Pedunculated CirripedesDarwin, Charles
Science
A Monograph on the Sub-class Cirripedia (Volume 1 of 2): The Lepadidae; Or, Pedunculated Cirripedes
Darwin, Charles
Cirripedia; Lepadidae
_Thorax and Abdomen._--The thorax, as in _S. vulgare_, is highly
extensible, and when stretched exhibits the same five transverse folds
or articulations; when contracted, it is broader, so that even the
truncated end of the abdomen is wider than the lower (properly anterior)
end of the thorax in _S. vulgare_. Its thin outer integument is studded
with excessively minute points in transverse rows. The four pair of
limbs are longer than in _S. vulgare_, but the spines on them much
shorter and thicker; each limb (including the first) supports three
spines, of which one is seated on a notch low down on the outside, and
is longer than the other two; of these two, the one on the same side
with the notch, is a little longer than the other. The spines on the
first and second pair of limbs are considerably shorter than those on
the third pair, and these latter, are a little shorter than those on the
fourth or posterior pair. Hence, the spines on the thoracic limbs,
compared with those of _S. vulgare_, present considerable differences,
both in their relative and absolute dimensions. The abdominal lobe is in
proportion rather shorter; its end is less abruptly truncated, and
supports a row of, I believe, six moderately long, and basally thick
spines; these spines are not so long as those surmounting the fourth
pair of limbs. On both lateral margins of the abdomen, rather on the
ventral face, there is a row of, I believe, seven long spines, but it is
very difficult to count the spines in specimens which have been once
dried. I was able to distinguish that the two lower pair of spines on
the ventral surface, are seated a little way one below and within the
other, as in _S. vulgare_. The abdominal spines altogether form quite a
brush, and there are certainly several more than in _S. vulgare_, and
those on the two sides are much longer.
_Antennæ._--The disc is hoof-like, with the upper surface forming a
straight line with the upper edge of the basal segment; the apex is
pointed and clothed with some fine down; there is a single spine
pointing backwards, which rises from the lower flat surface. The
ultimate segment was hidden in laminæ of cement; and I was not able to
make out its structure. There is a single spine on the outer edge of the
basal segment, in the usual position. The entire length of the limb,
measured from the end of the disc to the further margin of the basal
articulation, is 36/6000ths of an inch; measured to the inner margin, it
is; 21/6000ths of an inch; the disc itself is 12/6000ths of an inch
long; these measurements differ a little both absolutely ad
proportionally, compared with those of the antennæ of _S. vulgare_.
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