FEEDING OF CEEPIDULA. 



449 



to the region of the mouth the larger food particles, and at the same 

 time they may be utilized by the animal for getting rid of such heavier 

 undesirable particles as may be taken into the inhalent chamber. 



The moile of feeding may be easily observed by inducing individuals 

 to attach themselves to glass, so that if fine particles of some coloured 

 substance be added to the water, the whole of the details of the 

 operations can be seen through the glass. Carmine powder suspended 

 in a solution of methylene blue in seawater gives a good result, as the 

 latter stains the mucus a little, and makes its presence the more 

 easily detected. From the foregoing account of the mode of feeding of 

 Crepidula there remains no doubt that Crepidula takes the same kind 

 of food as the oyster. 



Fig. 3. — Ventral view of the tips of three gill-filaments from the anterior region. (Drawn 

 from the living animal. x about 90.) 

 v.c. Ventral edge of the filament: the cilia are not represented. 

 I.e. Lateral cilia. 



The notch in the tip of the filament permits the passage of food-particles to the ventral 

 surface. 



B 



Fig. 4. — Ventral view of the anterior half of Crepidula with the "head" of the animal 

 supposed cut away in order to show the food-pouch. 



A. Food -pouch. 



B. Tlie ciliated path is represented by the dotted line. 



