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
The _Radii_, in all the species, are constructed essentially on the
same plan as the parietes; thus, in the typical forms, there is an
outer and inner lamina, with septa, which, near the inner lamina, are
furnished with denticuli on both sides; hence the radii are permeated
by pores or tubes, like the parietes; but this holds good only in the
first section of the genus, for, in the other species, the tubes are
filled up quite solidly. The denticuli on the septa often occur only on
one side, or disappear altogether; and, lastly, the septa themselves
often appear merely like little teeth, or disappear altogether as in
_B. Hameri_, or occur only near the bases of the radii, as in _B.
amaryllis_. A slight furrow in the compartment, against which each
radius abuts, is generally marked by the septa and their denticuli. In
regard to the _alæ_, their lateral or sutural edges are either thin
and smooth, or, more commonly, finely crenated or ribbed. The little
transverse crenations are homologous with the septa in the radii and
parietes. The edges of the alæ are usually received in a furrow. The
diametric growth of the shell is effected by the growth of the radii
and alæ, and chiefly by that of the former. The sutural and lateral
edges of both radii and alæ are added to, either quite up to their
summits, or only low down, and during the continued growth of the
shell, lower and lower down; in accordance with this difference in
growth, the summits of the radii and alæ become either very oblique,
or they extend parallel to the basis, that is, from tip to tip of the
adjoining compartments. When the radii and alæ are added to, as is most
usual, above the level of the opercular membrane, and therefore above
the sack, ribbons of corium run up the sutures from the sack, higher
or lower, according to the height to which, in the different species,
the edges of the radii and alæ continue to be added to. The obliquity
of the summits of the radii and alæ varies, in some cases, in the same
species. It often happens that when the summits of the radii are very
oblique, the summits of the alæ are but little so; and the converse;
both, however, are often either equally oblique, or both have square
summits. The _sheath_ extends either one third or more than half down
the shell; its basal margin often (Pl. 25, fig. 1, K′) freely depends
or overhangs the inner lamina of the walls.
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