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 rectum, lined by membrane continuous with that investing the
thorax (and seen through it, in Pl. 26, fig. 8, _c_), extends inwards
to about opposite the bases of the third or fourth pairs of cirri.
It is longitudinally plaited; the ends of the folds forming a sort
of valve where joined on to the stomach. It is coated by circular,
transverse muscular fibres: judging from the movements, the anus
itself is surrounded by a strong sphincter muscle. The anus opens on
the dorsal surface of the thorax (fig. 8, _b_); but as in the genera,
in which caudal appendages occur, it opens under them, the orifice, I
believe, is homologically terminal, and owes its dorsal aspect to the
aborted state of the whole abdomen, and to the great development of the
probosciformed penis; for the anus may be said to be situated on the
dorsal base of this organ.
Altogether we see that the alimentary canal is of a very simple
structure. The food, judging from the contents of the stomach, seems
generally to be composed of infusoria and minute animals: but in the
case of Tetraclita, I have been surprised at the size and number of the
included amphipod, isopod, and entomostracan Crustaceans, in one case,
together with an annelid. I have, also, sometimes seen some confervoid
matter within the stomach.
_Circulatory System._
On this subject I can add nothing, except to express my conviction that
there is no heart, or true vessels; the circulation being strictly
lacunal. A passage has often been quoted from Poli, in which he states
that he saw a pulsating organ, close above the anus; but I have seen
this movement, which appeared to me to be a convulsive twitching of the
sphincter muscle of this orifice. The largest lacunal channel extends
down the middle of the rostral compartment of the shell: and this
answers to the rostral channel down the peduncle in the Lepadidæ. Large
nerves and the main pair of unbranched ovarian tubes (Pl. 25, fig. 1,
leading into _g_) extend along this channel. At the basis (at least in
Coronula) this channel joins on to a large circular one, running all
round the sack, and sending off branches into the mass of ovarian tubes
and cæca.
_Nervous System._
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