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
whole mandible against the labrum; and the depressor muscle might, at
the same time, draw the toothed edge downwards, and thus force any prey
into the œsophagus.
[34] This is figured by Burmeister in his 'Beiträge zur
Naturgeschichte der Rankenfüsser,' Tab. 2, fig. 6.
The inner maxillæ are likewise furnished with four muscles, very
nearly as figured in my former volume (Pl. 10, fig. 10); namely, two
muscles, one inside and the other outside the curious apodeme, which
in the Balanidæ (Pl. 26, fig. 7, _b′_) is as invariably present as in
the Lepadidæ: these two muscles are attached at their lower ends to
the outer membrane of the mouth, close to its basal articulation: the
outer one of these two muscles would, I presume, act as an elevator,
and the inner one as a depressor; the free part of the organ working on
the top of the apodeme, like an axe, on a hinge, on the top of a pole.
But there is also a larger depressor muscle, in an analogous position
with that (_i. e._ the first-mentioned muscle) of the mandibles; and a
fourth muscle, crossing the latter depressor at nearly right angles,
and attached (as far as I could make out) on the side of the orifice
of the œsophagus, close under the mandibles: the action of this latter
muscle would be to draw the whole organ towards the labrum.
I must not conclude my description of the mouth, without drawing
particular attention to its peculiar compounded nature. It is
prominent, and is capable, as a whole, of movement; it is separated
from the body by a fold or articulation, which can be traced all
round. It is, as we have seen, composed of a broad labrum and three
pairs of gnathites, which latter have only their terminal segments
free; and these surround a conical hollow, at the bottom of which
lies the opening of the œsophagus. The prominence of the whole mouth
appears to result from the lateral fusion of the two basal segments of
the three pairs of gnathites. I have examined the mouth of ordinary
Crustaceans, and can see no trace of a structure like this. That there
has been some union of the parts is indisputable; for the palpi, which
in ordinary Crustaceans are quite free, are here firmly united to the
upper and outer corners of the labrum; and indeed, at first appear to
be more intimately connected with the labrum than with the mandibles.
The palpus on its upper and exterior surface, is in direct continuity
with the square thickened piece of membrane, on which the mandible is
articulated, and likewise with that side of the upper or free portion
of the mandible which faces the labrum. This face of the mandible,
beneath the toothed edge, is hollowed out or arched (Pl. 26, fig. 5,
_p_), owing to the above-mentioned continuity of its membrane with
that of the palpus. On the lower surface, the palpus is firmly united
to the lateral corners of the labrum; or indeed the corners of the
labrum may be almost said to be formed by the soft, swollen bases of
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