1 lO G. A. ELRINGTON 



spécial modification which prevents méthylène blue having any effect 

 upon it. 



Temporary charade} ofthe dorsal gland. The view \ve hâve expressed 

 that the gland secrètes the substance of which the tube is composed, is 

 further borne out by the fact, that the gland disappears when the larva 

 abandons its pelagic habits and settles at the bottom of the sea. 



Through M"" Watson's kindness we were put in possession of two or 

 three very young spécimens oî Lanice measuring about 5 or 6 mm. in length, 

 which had left their transparent habitation, and were commencing to build 

 the sandy tube characteristic ofthe species. In thèse individuals we were 

 unable to find any trace of the structure found in the pelagic larva, and we 

 are led to conclude therefore that the dorsal gland disappears in the course 

 ofthe worm's development, as soon as it is no longer required. 



We did not either find any indication that this gland becomes trans- 

 formed during development into any permanent organ. It would be in- 

 teresting to find out at what period precisely this organ does disappear. 



Primitipe germ.cells. Although we hâve not made any spécial investi- 

 gation into the origin ofthe germ cells in this species, yet any indication 

 of their origin will be of value in the présent discussion concerning the 

 nature ofthe cells forming the «dorsal gland «. 



In one ofthe spécimens received from M"" Watson we found a group 

 of cells, situated in the ventral part ofthe body cavity, just above the nerve 

 cord, and surrounded by the ventral glandular tissue. 



Thèse cells hâve every appearance of being of a sexual character. The 

 cells are small, and the chromatin of the nuclei is arranged in threads of 

 various degrees of density. We did not find any nuclear divisions. 



Nephridial organs. The larvae at the présent stage are provided with 

 distinct pairs of nephridial organs situated in the anterior région of the 

 body. The anterior septum passes between the first and second pair, fig.6. 



Each nephridium has the form of a looped tube, the branches of which 

 are passed downwards in a ventral direction, remaining for a certain distance 

 more or less side by side. The outer branch ends in the neighbourhood of 

 a bundle of setœ, and appears to hâve an opening at the side, but we hâve 

 not been able to trace the actual opening with certainty. 



The inner branch ofthe loop ends blindly in the coelom. There are 

 no traces of a nephrostome, or ciliated funnel. 



