36 ART. 4. — I. IKEDA I 



SIPUNCULUS AMAMIENSIS, n. sp. 



(Figs. 64-65). 



The species is of a tolerably large size, the body proper 

 measuring 100-120 mm. in length and 10-15 mm. in thickness 

 and the length of the introvert being about one-fourth that of 

 the body proper. The color is yellowish brown in the body 

 proper, and a deeper brown in the introvert. The skin-surface 

 is rough, especially at the introvert-basis and at the posterior 

 end of the body, both these parts being covered with the largest 

 skin-bodies. In the middle of the main region of the body, 

 the skin-bodies are nearly flat and of a circular form, measuring 

 about 0.075 mm. in diameter (Fig. 64). They are each covered 

 with a thick and finely granular chitinous layer of a yellow 

 color. The central part of this covering is occupied by a rela- 

 tively large, circular and colorless area which is composed of 

 larger, closely aggregated chitinous granules. Between the papillae 

 the chitinous layer of the skin forms irregular and interrupted 

 wrinkle-like folds, which divide the surface into irregular mesh- 

 like areas. Near the anterior end of the introvert, immediately 

 behind the tentacles, the chitin folds wholly disappear, and in- 

 stead of them there appear narrow grooves intersecting one an- 

 other at right angles so as to bring about a tesselated pattern. 



make the structure in question much too hard and brittle for the preparation of good 

 sections. However that may be, I have no doubt that the two layers described by 

 AuGENER collectively correspond to the single epithelial layer I have seen and the glandular 

 nature of which seems to be plain from the reaction shown by the granular contents of the 

 cells towards stains. 



As to the physiological significance of the bodies, AuGENER too lias suggested the view 

 that they may be regarded as "drüsenartige Gebilde" {p. Ç>?>), though this was not proved 

 by him from the histological standpoint. 



