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
In _Balanus tintinnabulum_, the structure of the great infra-œsophageal
ganglion (Pl. 27, fig. 2, A) is essentially the same as described under
Coronula. The great pair of splanchnic nerves springing from its under
side, are here actually twice as large as the circa-œsophageal chord.
The plexus (_d′_) formed by the splanchnic nerve (_d_), on each side,
with the supra-splanchnic nerve (_e_), which arises close posteriorly
to the supra-œsophageal ganglion, is here much less complicated, but
is perfectly distinct; and there was no appearance of the cervical
ganglion of M. Martin St. Ange. The chord (_g_) running from between
the two supra-œsophageal ganglions to the ophthalmic ganglion, is
nearly as large as the double antennular nerve (_f_) on each side of
it. The ophthalmic chord (which is accompanied in its whole course by a
small branch running to the adductor scutorum muscle) terminates in a
small ophthalmic ganglion (C), which seems to be formed by the almost
complete fusion of two ganglions. This ganglion is hardly larger than
the chord which it terminates: it appeared to me to give rise to more
than one pair of nerves, and a single nerve (to my surprise) joined the
branch just mentioned, which goes to the adductor scutorum muscle.
From each supra-œsophageal ganglion, two closely united antennular
nerves (_f_) extend, of which the inner one crosses over the main
or exterior nerve, nearly opposite to the ophthalmic ganglion, and
here forms (_m_) a plexus. The structure of this plexus I was not
able, any more than in Coronula, to make out thoroughly, but I traced
quite distinctly a long nerve (_i_) running from it into what must be
considered as the eye. As in the case of Coronula, I traced a nerve
on each side from the ophthalmic ganglion into the plexus, where I
lost it; and as here in Balanus, I saw on each side of the ophthalmic
ganglion a cut off nerve, of about the size of that which runs from
the plexus on each side into the eye, I think we may safely conclude
that the latter or optic nerve does really arise from the ganglion here
called ophthalmic. I may add that the analogy of the nervous system in
the Lepadidæ most strongly confirms the view of this latter being the
ophthalmic ganglion.
_Eyes and Vision._
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