VII 



MOLL USC ATHE NEPHRIDIA 



221 



pericardium as a simple median tube. Anteriorly it is connected with the peri- 

 cardium by a funnel, and near the middle communicates with the exterior by means 

 of a lateral urinary duct (Fig. 19, p. 1'2). 



C. Scaphopoda (Fig. 165, p. 193). 



Dentaliwm has a pair of symmetrical kidneys, one on each side of the hind-gut. 

 Each nephridium consists of a sac provided with short diverticula. The two nephri- 

 dia are connected by a tube above the anus, and open into the mantle cavity by 

 two apertures at the sides of the anus. If, as maintained by all authorities, there 

 are no reno-pericardial apertures, the Scaphopoda would be the oiily group of Molluscs 

 in which these apertures are entirely absent. Apart from the symmetry of the 

 kidneys, a fact to be specially noted is that the genital products pass out of the 

 genital gland into the right kidney (either by the bursting of the wall between the 

 two organs or through an aperture), and only reach the exterior, i,i\ the mantle 

 cavity, through the right renal aperture. 



It must, further, be noted that near the anus on each side, between it and the 

 renal aperture, a pore, the water-pore, occurs, the function of which is still doubt- 

 ful. If these pores really lead into the blood lacunar system of the body, as was 

 formerly maintained, and is still held to be possible, this would be the only known 

 case of the direct imbibition of water into the blood. 



D. Lamellibranchia. 



The nephridium (organ of Bojanus) is always paired and symmetrical, and lies 

 below the pericardium and in 

 front of the posterior adductor. 

 Each nephridium is tubular or 

 sac-like, opening at one end 

 through a funnel into the peri- 

 cardium, and at the other into 

 the mantle cavity. This com- 

 munication of the kidney with 

 the mantle cavity always takes 

 place above the cerebrovisceral 

 connective. 



The lowest Lamellibranchia 

 (Protobranchia, Nucula, Li-iln. 

 8olenomya) are distinguished 

 in two ways. (1) Eacli nephri- 

 dium is a simple tube, with a 

 free cavity not traversed by 

 trabeculfe or lamella?. This 

 tube consists of two portions 

 which unite posteriorly at an 

 angle ; the anterior end of one 



FIG. 184. Transverse section through the body of Ano- 

 donta, showing the pericardium, thf heart, and the kidneys, 

 combined and diagrammatised from figures by Griesbach. 



of these portions enters the Not a u the parts represented occur on the same section. 1, 



pericardium through the renal Pericardium; 1, ventricle ; 3, auricles; 4, hind -gut; 5, 

 funnel, the other end opens 

 into the mantle cavity. (2) 



The paired genital "lands do lnantle cavity throu * h the ne P hridial ai. t -i-ture ; 10, genital 



aperture ; 11, base of the foot, 

 not open outward directly, but 



enter the kidneys near their pericardial funnel a fact which is very important in 



venous sinus ; 6, reno-pericardial aperture (funnel) ; 1, renal 

 sac or cavity ; 8, vestibular cavity, which at 9 enters the 



