MOLGULA INCONSPICUA. 61 



nate, and the branches are somewhat regularly 

 disposed. 



The alimentary canal (PL XXVII, fig. 5) is volu- 

 minous and entirely fills up the lower portion of the 

 sac ; there are two large loops, the upper of which, 

 after passing about two-thirds up, bends downwards 

 near the centre of the mouth. The liver (PL XXVII, 

 fig. 5) is of a dark obscure green, and is seen externally 

 as two masses by the sides of the stomach, that on the 



/ 



ventral side being comparatively small; it appears 

 more highly organized than usual, and is composed of 

 a few large, transverse laminae or fold-like lobes. The 

 anal margin is narrow, smooth, and reflected. 



The reproductive organs (PL XXVII, fig. 5) are 

 rather large, considerably elongated, and well arched, 

 with the margins irregularly lobulated on the external 



o o / 



surface ; on the inner surface they are seen to be com- 

 posed of two elements ; the upper longitudinal half of 

 the right-hand organ, and the lower of the left-hand 

 one, are paler than the rest, or ovigerous portion, 

 which is yellowish ; the pale portions are the male 

 elements, and are irregularly lobed and of a greenish- 

 white colour ; the oviducts are short ; the vas deferens 

 was not observed. The cardiac cylinder, which is 

 placed parallel to, but considerably below, the genital 

 organ, is decidedly bent and has the extremities 

 obtuse. 



This rather obscure species is remarkable on account 

 of the nearly linear arrangement of the branchial 

 meshes, which, however, preserve sufficient curvature 

 to bear out the character of the genus to which it 

 belongs. It is nearly allied to M. simplex, from which 

 it differs in the character of the branchial meshes 

 already noticed, as well as in the less bushy tentacular 

 filaments, the more voluminous intestine, and in other 

 features of the digestive organs. 



