1918.] G. S. Thafar: Tke Lyinijli Glands m rheretima. 73 



fact that the cells are budded off from the inner surface of the capsule. 

 It is possible also that some cells are budded from the outer surface 

 of the membrane ; or the cells which may be seen there may perhaps 

 be leucocytes of the coelomic fluid which have become temporarily 

 adherent. 



In Pheretima heterochaeta the lobulation of the glands is less marked 

 than in P. hawayana, and the outline of the glands in sections is com- 

 paratively smooth ; there is consequently not the same massing together 

 of the newly formed and forming cells within the lobules, and the texture 

 of the gland seems on the whole to be looser ; the capsule is as a rule 

 more easily traced, and its connection with the reticulum within the 

 gland is easily made out. 



In P. posthuma the lobulation is similar to that of P. hawayana, 

 and the relation of the capsule to the cells also is as described for that 

 species. 



OTHER CONTENTS OF THE GLANDS. 



That the main mass of the cells of the glands are leucocytes with a 

 phagocytic function has been established by the experiments of 

 Schneider. 



In addition I have seen the cells described by Schneider as contain- 

 ing small round refractile granules ; the cells may be partially or even 

 entirely filled by the granules. Chloragogen cells are also to be seen, 

 and may be met with in various stages of degeneration. Cysts and 

 pseudonavicellae of Monocystis, which may be surrounded by an almost 

 epithelial arrangement of leucocytes, are present. Setae and fragments 

 of setae, similarly surrounded by leucocytes, are also found. 



THE COELOMIC FLUID IN PHERETIMA. 



I add a few notes on the coelomic fluid in this genus. 



The fluid is of a yellowish colour, which varies according to the nature 

 of its cellular contents. Its consistency also varies ; it is thick and gela- 

 tinous in specimens coming from a dry locality, thinner in those from 

 places where there is abundant moisture. As is well known, it is co- 

 agulable by alcohol. 



Its cellular constituents are of four chief kinds : — 



(1) Leucocytes, granular and colourless, of various sizes ; the nu- 

 cleus is usually spherical, and excentrically placed ; the chromatin is 

 distributed as irregular granules, while in the middle of the nucleus is 

 a larger aggregate, which may be called the pseudonucleolus. In 

 normal salt solution these cells are seen to be actively putting out pseu- 

 dopodia, fine filiform processes extending in various directions, which 

 may anastomose with similar pseudopodia of other cells and lead to the 

 production of plasmodia. The cells may sometimes become pear-shaped, 

 with a fine filiform process which gives the appearance of a flagellated 

 Protozoon till the movements are observed. 



(2) Minute colourless nongranular cells, mostly spherical, but some- 

 times becoming elongated and pointed at the ends ; they are numerous, 

 and may also form plasmodia. In stained preparations the clear proto- 

 plasm readily takes up the eosin stain ; the nucleus when present is 



