54 



Charles GELDERD 



In his research on the Edriophthalmia, Professer Ide is of the opinion 

 that the stomach is not devoid of an important mechanical action upon the 

 food, though of a différent nature and intensity according to the species of 

 the animal. This mechanical action would vary according to the structure 

 of the organ and according to the form, the strength, and the disposition of 

 the stomach pièces. 



This author does not attach great importance to the division of the 

 stomach into two portions; he calls it simply " poche malaxatrice". 



Almost ail the authors hâve made the division into cardiac and pyloric 

 chambers (Huxley, Frenzel, Claus, Mocquart). 



Yet, for the Edriophthalmia Lereboullet, Leydig and Weber do not 

 make the division. 



The varions observers hâve given ail of their attention to the cardiac 

 chamber; the pyloric by reason of its complex structure has been constantly 

 neglected, and given the function of a filter, valvule or sphincter. 



Frey divides the stomach oi Macvomysis Jlexuosa into ^pars cardiaca 

 et pars pylorica -. ■ 



Mocquart exarained the stomach of one of the Schizopoda but he had 

 not determined the species. 



Our research upon the Schizopoda hâve convinced us that in thèse 

 animais, at least, the chief function of the cardiac chamber is that of 

 masticating the particles of food, as an auxiliary to the mouth pièces. This 

 process takes place in the posterior portion of the chamber where the teeth 

 are situated. 



Secondarily, the cardiac chamber acts as a sieve or filter for the further 

 rétention in the cavity of such particles of food that hâve not been suffi- 

 ciently divided. 



We hâve already seen that the plates arc armed with teeth of various 

 kinds, with spines and with hairs. 



Some of the spines are very powerful and hâve indented surfaces. 



The teeth and spines may hâve the rôle of cutting and tearing the 

 pièces of végétal food consisting of pièces of algae. 



The anterior borders of the latéral pièces are fringed with very long 

 hairs which terminate in three or four minute teeth-like points not unlike 

 the molars of a small mammal; thèse hairs being directed backwards 

 towards the centre of the cavity, hâve the rôle simply of coUecting and 

 bringing the food towards the centre of the plates where it can be directed 



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