The Cambridge natural history, Vol. 04 (of 10)Warburton, Cecil
Science
The Cambridge natural history, Vol. 04 (of 10)
Warburton, Cecil
Animals
From the lateral position of these eyes they can hardly be compared with
the median simple eye of other Crustacea. In _Harpes_ it is more
probable that, as suggested by J. M. Clarke, they are schizochroal eyes
imperfectly developed. Their structure (Fig. 139, G, H) is somewhat
similar to that of schizochroal eyes, and moreover, in one species, _H.
macrocephalus_,[188] there are, in addition to the three main tubercles,
other smaller tubercles in regular rows. Further, the eye-line occupies
the same position as in other Trilobites which have undoubted compound
eyes. The absence of a facial suture cannot be taken as evidence against
these eyes being of the ordinary type, since in some species of
_Acidaspis_ (e.g. _A. verneuili_, _A. vesiculosa_) which possess
compound eyes there is, in consequence of the coalescence of the fixed
and free cheeks, no suture.
In some species of _Trinucleus_ (Fig. 140, B) the simple eye is found in
the same position as the eye in _Harpes_, and if, as some writers have
maintained, there is evidence of the existence of a suture in that
genus, then there is no reason for regarding the eye as other than a
degenerate form of compound eye. The probability of its being such is
supported by the existence of a compound eye in a similar position in
the allied form _Orometopus_ (Fig. 140, A) which possesses a facial
suture.
In some species of _Trinucleus_ (Fig. 140, B) and _Ampyx_ there is a
small median tubercle on the front part of the glabella, which from its
position may be a simple unpaired eye, but its structure appears to be
unknown.
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