A Monograph on the Sub-class Cirripedia (Volume 2 of 2): The Balanidæ, (or Sessile Cirripedes); the Verrucidæ, etc., etc.Darwin, Charles
Science
A Monograph on the Sub-class Cirripedia (Volume 2 of 2): The Balanidæ, (or Sessile Cirripedes); the Verrucidæ, etc., etc.
Darwin, Charles
Balanidae; Cirripedia
I can add nothing to the account given of these organs under the
Lepadidæ: I saw them in all the genera which I examined for this
object. In _Coronula diadema_ the orifices are large; they are seated
in the usual position (Pl. 26, fig. 4, _n_), in the confluent segments,
beneath the free part of the outer maxillæ, and somewhat exteriorly,
or as near as possible to the inner maxillæ. In no sessile cirripede
are the orifices produced or tubular, as is the case with several
genera amongst the Lepadidæ. I failed, as heretofore, in tracing with
certainty the nerve, which appears to enter the base of the sack, to
its ganglion.
_Male Organs of Generation._
All the Cirripedes of the family we are now describing, are bisexual
or hermaphrodite; and no instance has been observed of the presence
of males or complemental males. I have very little to add to the
observations made by M. Martin St. Ange and R. Wagner,[44] and to
those given in my former volume. The testes seem always to be confined
to within the thorax, including the prosoma. With their ducts, they
resemble club-moss or stag's horns, with the extremities a little
enlarged: a figure[45] of a small portion from _Balanus perforatus_ is
given in Pl. 25, fig. 2. It is quite surprising how like in structure
and appearance the branching ovarian tubes often are to the testes with
their ducts; but the latter are of smaller diameter. Two main ducts
generally unite just before entering the broad, often reflexed, end of
the vesicula seminalis: in _Coronula balænaris_, however, I observed
four ducts entering this receptacle. The two vesiculæ seminales, lying
within the thorax and prosoma, are usually very long and tortuous: they
are formed of a thin inner tunic, which is strengthened by thicker
reticulated lines, and of an outer layer of transverse fibres, which
are either elastic, or probably muscular, as they serve to expel
the contents with force when the end is cut off. The inner tunic is
prolonged up the probosciformed penis, at the base of which the two
vesiculæ unite.[46] The contents of the vesiculæ are commonly pulpy and
cellular; and from the cells the spermatozoa are developed; soon after
their development, they are, as it appears, expelled.
[44] The 'Report' on M. Martin St. Ange's memoir was laid before
the Academy of Sciences, July 14, 1834, so that I suppose it was
read previously to this date. R. Wagner's paper was published
in 'Müller's Archiv,' 1834, p. 467. Burmeister's 'Beiträge
zur Naturgeschichte der Rankenfüsser,' was published this
same year, 1834; so that these three authors published almost
contemporaneously.
[45] A far better figure is given by Karsten ('Nov. Act. Acad. Cæs.
Nat. Cur.,' 1845, Pl. 20, figs. 2, 3, 4), but under the erroneous
supposition that these organs were hepatic.
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