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 rostro-lateral, like the carino-lateral compartments, are developed
subsequently to the others, I have had no opportunity of ascertaining,
and therefore cannot confirm the above analogical conclusion, namely,
that they, also, belong to a lower whorl.
In the sub-family Balaninæ, which includes Balanus (woodcut 7), and
Tetraclita (woodcut 8), the shell is characterised by not having
rostro-lateral compartments, and by the rostrum having radii: now in
_Pachylasma giganteum_, which undoubtedly belongs to the sub-family
Chthamalinæ, at a very early age the rostro-lateral compartments become
blended with the true rostrum, making a compound rostrum, exactly like
the rostrum in the Balaninæ; distinct evidence of a similar fusion
is retained throughout life (Pl. 15, fig. 1) in all three species of
Chelonobia, which is undoubtedly a member of the Balaninæ. Hence, I
think, we may conclude that in all the genera of the Balaninæ the
rostro-lateral compartments are probably not aborted, but are blended
with a normal rostrum (resembling that in woodcuts 4, 5, 6), making
together a compound rostrum furnished with radii: it must, however, be
observed that I could not detect any actual evidence of this fusion
in Balanus, even immediately after the metamorphosis. In Chamæsipho
(woodcut 6), either the rostro-lateral compartments attain a most
unusual breadth, or, as is more probable, they have become confluent
with the lateral compartments, which in the Lepadidæ seem to be the
most persistent of all the lateral valves. In such genera as Tetraclita
and Chthamalus, in which the carino-lateral compartments are absent,
they may be fused with the lateral compartments or with the carina; but
seeing that they are normally developed later than the other valves,
it appears to be the simplest theory to assume, until the contrary
be proved, that they are aborted. Finally, the somewhat unexpected
conclusion that the shell (not including the operculum) of sessile
Cirripedes normally consists of eight valves, four belonging to an
upper whorl, and four to a lower whorl, all forced into a single ring,
and often more or less fused together, though not strictly proved,
is rendered highly probable. I will only further add, that the Basis
perhaps represents several whorls of the small valves or scales on the
peduncle of Pollicipes, fused together; the comparison of the basis
with the calcareous cup, forming the lowest portion of the peduncle in
Lithotrya, which has been made by some authors, I do not think is very
accurate, as the cup in Lithotrya seems to have a special relation to
the boring habits of that genus.
[Illustration: Fig. 9.
Basal edge of wall of compartment in _Balanus tintinnabulum_; _a_, _a_,
outer lamina; _b_, _b_, inner lamina; _c_, _c_, longitudinal septa
uniting the inner and outer laminæ with their ends denticulated.]
_Structure of the Individual Compartments._
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