=Openings.=—The slitlike _vent_ is on the under side of the telson
(Figs. 82, 88). The _mouth_ is on the under side of the thorax behind
the mandibles. At the base of the long antennæ are the openings from the
_green glands_, two glands in the head which serve as kidneys (Fig. 89).
The openings of the _reproductive organs_ are on the third pair of legs
in the female, and the fifth pair of legs in the male (Fig. 88). The
eggs are carried on the swimmerets.
[Illustration:
FIG. 89.—Level lengthwise section showing _h_, heart. _d_, green
gland. _le_, liver. _kie_, gills. _kh_, gill cavity. _ma_, stomach.
(After Huxley.)
]
=Internal Structure.=—SUGGESTIONS. If studied by dissection, it will
be necessary to have several crayfish for each pupil, one for gaining
general knowledge, and others for studying the systems in detail.
Specimens should have lain in alcohol for several days.
[Illustration:
FIG. 90.—SECTION OF CRAYFISH showing—stomach _s_, liver _li_, and vent
_a_.
]
=The Food Tube.=—Is the stomach in the head portion of the
cephalothorax or in the thoracic portion? (Figs. 88,89). Is the
stomach large or small? What is its general shape? Does the gullet
lead upward or backward? Is it long or short? (Fig. 88.) The mid tube,
which is the next portion of the food tube, is smaller than the
stomach. On each side of it are openings from the bile ducts which
bring the secretion from the digestive gland, sometimes called the
liver. Does this gland extend the whole length of the thorax? Is it
near the floor or the top of the cavity? The third and last portion of
the food tube is the intestine. It extends from the thorax to the
vent. Is it large or small? Straight or curved? The powerful flexor
muscles of the tail lie in the abdomen below the intestines. Compare
the size of these muscles with the extensor muscle above the intestine
(Fig. 90). Why this difference? Does the food tube extend into the
telson? Locate the vent (Fig. 90).
[Illustration:
FIG. 91.—Showing heart and main blood vessels.
]
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