TUBE OF PANTHALIS. 339 



opportunity of watching its method of niinghng the fine 

 mud with the cobwebs, one of the points needful to com- 

 plete the process. This was done l)y the same limbs as 

 those used in weaving, the mud being swept into the 

 mouth of the tube by striking backwards, the edge of the 

 tube was also at the same time pulled in uj)on the animal 

 and forced out again as previously described. The dorsal 

 cirri of the 3rd pair of parapodia also appear occasionally 

 to assist by drawing fine mud into the tube. It being 

 evident on the 17th September, that Pantlialis was ailing, 

 I decided to remove it from its tube and examine it under 

 the microscope w^hile still alive, as I had yet to ascertain 

 the source of the mucus like threads, and how they 

 were conveyed to the " weaving feet," Thanks to Miss 

 Buchanan's admirable paper on Eupolijodontes cornishii in 

 the Quart. Journal of Microscopical Science of January, 

 1894, in which she briefly describes the members of the 

 sub-family Acoetidse, e.nd gives the bibliography on the 

 subject, I was already aware of the existence of Eisig's 

 ''spinning glands" in the parapodia of Polijodontes, and 

 consequently prepared to expect something similar in 

 Fanthalis. 



This particular living specimen afforded no evidence on 

 that point, but by observation of others, and also by 

 dissection of dead specimens, I am convinced that these 

 glands, which exist in all the parapodia of PantJiaUs, 

 except the anterior eight pairs, are the source of the 

 mucus-like threads. The glands correspond very closely 

 wdth those of Folyodontes maxillosus described and figured 

 by Eisig (Monographie der Capitelliden), and their large, 

 bronze-like coils, seen on opening the body of the animal 

 either from above, or by transverse section, are most 

 striking objects. In the latter view the chsetal sac when 

 opened, reminds one of a lock of hair, the long, exceed- 



