4 8 



WESLEY R. COE. 



of the esophagus and open into the lumen of this portion of the 

 alimentary canal. 



In a recent study of a species of the same genus (Tcsniosoina 

 cingnlatuin Coe) from the Hawaiian Islands, I have found a 

 very similar condition. 1 In this species the nephridial ducts are 

 profusely branched, and extend through the posterior three fifths 

 of the esophageal region. The branches are of rather large size 

 and are situated on the lateral walls of the esophageal blood 

 lacunae, in close contact with the epithelial lining of the blood 

 spaces (Figs. I, 2, 3). 



The total number of efferent ducts is between ten and thirty on 



nep 



eep 



FIG. I. Tifitiosoma cingulatum. Portion of transverse section of body through 

 esophageal region, showing efferent duct (</) leading from a large nephridial canal 

 (nep) through esophageal epithelium (eep)to lumen of esophagus (e) ; el, esophageal 

 blood lacuna ; cu, cutis ; olm and iltn, outer and inner longitudinal muscular layers 

 respectively; tm, circular muscular layer ; /, lateral nerve ; plm and fan, longitu- 

 dinal and circular muscles of proboscis sheath. X 75- 



each side of the body, and those which open into the esophagus 

 are interspersed irregularly with those opening upon the external 

 surface of the body. The average position of those opening 

 externally, however, is somewhat more anterior than that of those 

 leading to the esophagus. The latter are more numerous than 

 the former, and are much the more conspicuous. The appear- 



1 Coe, W. R., " Nemerteans of the Hawaiian Islands, Collected by the Steamer 

 Albatross in 1902," Hull. U. S. Fish Com., 1903, p. 984, 1906. 



