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
In mature Cirripedes these ducts can be followed, in a slightly sinuous
course, along the muscles on each side within the peduncle, till they
expand into two small organs, which I have called cement-glands. These
glands are found with great difficulty, except in _Conchoderma aurita_,
where they are placed on each side under the inner layer of corium, at
the bottom of the sack, so as to be just above the top of the peduncle;
they resemble in shape a retort, (Pl. IX, fig. 3.). In _Pollicipes
mitella_ and _polymerus_ they lie half way down the peduncle, close
together, and apparently enclosed within a common membrane; in these two
species the broad end of the gland is bent towards the neck of the
retort. In Scalpellum the position is the same, but the shape is more
globular. In Ibla the structure is more simple, namely, a tube slightly
enlarged, running downwards, bent a little upwards, and then resuming
its former downward course, the lower portion forming the duct. The
gland contains a strongly coherent, pulpy, opaque, cellular mass, like
that in the cement-ducts; but in some instances, presently to be
mentioned, this cellular mass becomes converted within either the ducts
or gland, or within both, into transparent, yellow, tough cement.
Generally in Conchoderma, Pollicipes, and Scalpellum, two ovarian tubes,
but in one specimen of _Conchoderma aurita_, three tubes, and in Ibla
one tube could be seen running into or forming the gland; of the nature
of the tubes there could not be the least doubt, for at a little
distance from the glands they gave out branches (Pl. IX, fig. 3),
containing ova in every state of development. In some specimens as in
that figured of _Conchoderma aurita_, the ovarian tube on one side of
the gland is larger than on the other, and has rather the appearance of
being deeply embedded in the gland than of forming it; but, in other
specimens, the two ovarian tubes first formed a little pouch, into which
their cellular contents could be clearly seen to enter; and then this
pouch expanded into the gland; thus quite removing a doubt which I had
sometimes felt, whether the ovarian tube was not simply attached to or
embedded in the gland, without any further connection. By dissection
the multiple external coats of the gland and ovarian tubes could be seen
to be continuous. The cellular contents of the tubes passed into the
more opaque cellular contents of the gland, by a layer of transparent,
pulpy, pale, yellowish substance. There appeared in several instances to
be a relation, between the state of fulness and condition of the
contents of the gland, and of the immediately adjoining portions of the
ovarian tubes. In one specimen of _Pollicipes mitella_ it was clear that
the altered, tough, yellow, transparent, non-cellular contents of the
two glands and ducts, had actually invaded for some little distance, the
two ovarian tubes which ran into them, thus showing the continuity of
the whole.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account