Australian Eartha'ornis. 233 



become irregular, there is a somewhat different arranjrement. 

 as the ducts from the micro and meganephridia form a net- 

 work [Fisf. l-i, n.i.] before passing out through the longitudinal 

 muscles. 



In no case could I find any connection from one segment to 

 another by means of ducts, and though Professor Spencer (lA) 

 figured it, he was uncertain of its existence. 



8. — Woodwardia gippslandica/ Spencer: 

 syn. Cryptodiihis gippslandicus. 



Nephridiopores not very distinct, but, after careful examina- 

 tion, are seen to be present opposite and anterior to the third 

 seta on each side of the body in each segment after the second, 

 about halfway between the dorsal pores and the midventral line. 



Meganephric. 



Macroscopic Structure. — On dissection, one pair of mega- 

 nephridia is seen to be present on the ventral surface of each 

 segment, with the exception of the first and second. The funnel 

 of each [Fig. 16, F.J lies close to the nerve cord in the ventral line. 

 From the funnel a fine cord leads to a coiled mass of tubules, 

 from which apparently a second fine duct passes off to a large 

 muscular vesicle or bladder [Fig. 17], which opens to the 

 exterior just anterior to the third seta. The vesicle is thin 

 walled and transparent. The nephridia appear to be of the 

 same structure all through the body. 



Microscopic Structure. — On examining the nephridia of this 

 form histologically, we find that the funnel is extremely small 

 in relation to the size of the nephridium. The actual cells com- 

 posing it were rather difficult to determine, but as far as could 

 be ascertained they were marginal cells, columnar in shape, and. 

 as usual, ciliated. From the funnel an extremely fine intra- 

 cellular [Fig. 17, d.i.] duct passes through the septum to a large 

 mass of definitely coiled tubules [17 c.n.]. From this mass is 

 given off a single duct, intracellular again [V.d.], opening into 

 the muscular bladder [V], which is, as in several other species 

 examined, without doubt intercellular. This opens in its turn 

 to the exterior, the opening [O.N.] being, as indicated by the 



1 Michaelsen, ibid. 



