No. I.] SPHYRANURA OSLERL 23 



presence of cilia in the larger excretory vessels at certain 

 points. 



Our own observations on the presence of funnels and ciliary 

 movements are the following: The finest capillaries, which 

 possess apparently a definite membrane, present at certain 

 points funnel-shaped expansions where the membrane termi- 

 nates. In the interior of this funnel, which is not closed, are 

 cilia, which appear to be inserted on or at the rim of the fun- 

 nel and hanging down into it. The funnel is itself a gradual 

 expansion of the capillary membrane, and is somewhat elon- 

 gated. (Fig. 12, <^.) Beyond the mouth of the funnel a net-work 

 of fine intercellular canaliculi is rendered visible by means 

 of the fine granules which inject them when the specimen has 

 been subjected to pressure for some time. Sometimes a 

 nucleus can be seen in a mesh of this net-work ; oftener not ; so 

 that it is difficult to determine if a mesh represents the boun- 

 daries of a cell of connective tissue. No covering cell was 

 found, although several fresh specimens of Sphyranura were 

 studied day after day for weeks under a one-twelfth-inch oil-im- 

 mersion of Leitz, and a No. 10 water-immersion of Hart- 

 nack. These funnels lie in the interior of a connective tissue- 

 cell, and the fine canal which leads into the broad mouth of 

 the funnel passes through the cell substance. The outlines of 

 these cells can be very distinctly seen after the addition of acetic 

 methyl-green and glycerine. The cilia of the funnel absorb the 

 color till they take a very deep tint in contrast with the sur- 

 rounding structures, while the outlines of the excretory capil- 

 lary in both directions from the funnel disappear, leaving no 

 trace of their presence. (Fig. 12, d.^ The nucleus of the con- 

 taining cell is always placed on one side of the funnel and 

 excentrically in the cell. The most favorable position for the 

 observation of these relations is in either of the lateral edges of 

 the caudal lamina. 



The funnel, as well as the capillary into which it empties, 

 always has a distinct wall up to the rim of its broad mouth. 

 The cilia hang over this rim into the funnel from the proto- 

 plasm of the containing cell, and are so inserted that the series 

 of origins correspond exactly with the rim of the funnel. 



It is only after pressure that the ciliated funnels of Sphy- 

 ranura become visible ; possibly the conditions of the tissues are 



