292 THE CEPHALOPODA. § 255. 



eral aquiferous cells to the base of the branchiae, have, exteriorly, variously 

 ramified, glandular tufts which project into the aquiferous cells. <^* Some- 

 times similar appendages are found also upon the principal veins which 

 open, in these cells, into the venae cavae.^"' With Nautilus, which has 

 on each side in the peritoneum four venae cavae, each of these last extends 

 between two cells each of which receives a part of the glandular append- 

 ages with which it is provided.^''* 



These organs, for a long time known as the Spongy bodies, can now be 

 regarded positively as kidneys ; for, by chemical analysis, it has been 

 proved that they secrete uric acid.^^' Careful examination of them has 

 shown that their parenchyma consists of a tissue of contractile fibres,**' 

 among which are spread branches coming from the venae cavae. 



This parenchyma is surrounded by a structureless membrane, covered with 

 several layers of nucleated granular cells. The urine is secreted from the 

 external surface of this cellular layer ; it is of a dirty -yellow color, and 

 escapes immediately into the peritoneal cavities, and thence is discharged 

 externally through their orifices, which may, therefore, be taken for ure- 

 thral canals. These spongy appendages of the veins ouglit, therefore, to 

 be regarded as everted glandular follicles, the secreting cells being situated 

 externally and the blood-vessels within, <''' Not unfrequently, the reddish 

 crystals formed in the urine, completely incrust these gland;-, giving thcni 

 their peculiar color. '^' 



The so-called Branchial hearts of the Dibranchiata contain no trace of 

 muscular fibres, and appear to be in some way connected with the urinary 

 organs. They are round, hollow, thick-walled, and lie upon the course 

 of the venae cavae between the last renal masses of the branchiae, so that 

 the blood of these veins passes into their cavities and bathes their spongy 

 walls.'** Their color is violet with the Octopoda, and pale-yellow with the 



1 Cuvier, Mem. p. 18, PI. II. fig. 1, 3, PI. III. tenuta nel Firenze, 1841, p. 396, or Isis, 18-13, p. 



fig. 1, X. X ; H^agyier, Icon. zoot. Tab. XXIX. 417). 



fig. 14, q. q, 16 ; Delle Chiaje, loc. cit. Tav. At my request, E. ffarless, while at Trieste, sub- 



LXXXVII. XCI. XCIII. XCIX. (IV, 21, 23, 19) ; jeoted tliese organs to a chemical analysis, and, as 



Carus, Erlaiiterungstafeln, lift. VI. Tab. II. fig. 15, he obtained from their contents purpurate of Am- 



17 ; Mayer, Analekten, Taf. V. fig. 1, s. s. (Octo- monia, there can be no doubt that they are really 



pus) ; Grant, Transact, of the Zool. Soc. I. PI. II. kidneys. 



fig. 8, a. b, PI. XI. fig. 9, b. b. (LoUgflpsis and 3 The contractility observed in these appendages 



Sepiola) ; Van Beneden, loc. cit. PI. III. fig. 5, f. is due, without doubt, to this fibrous tissue {Krohn, 



f. (Argonauta).* , in Froriep's neue Notiz. XI. 1839, p. 214, and 



■-i Krohn, in Muller''s Arch. 1839, p. 355, and Erdl, in IViesmann''s Arch. 1843, p. 162). 



Brandt, loc. cit. Taf. XXXII. fig. 2. x. ti I am indebted for this remarkable Iiistological 



3 Owen, On the Nautilus, p. 31, PI. V. No. 6, fact to a recent communication from HarlessA 



PI. VI. fig. 1, No. 6, or Isis. p. 26, Taf. III. IV., or 7 1 have often found in the kidneys of the Sepia 



Ann. d. Sc. Nat. p. 126, PI. III. fig. 1, 2 ; and f^a- officinalis groups of rhomboidal crystals of a crim- 



lenciennes, loc. cit. p. 286, PI. X. fig. 2, Jt. son red color. Krohn (^Froriep's neue Notiz. XI. 



i These appendages have been successively re- p. 215) has found them constantly with Sepia, but 



garded as absorbent vessels, a rudimental portal has sought in vain for them with Octopus, and 



system, a spleen, accessory branchiae, blood-reser- Loligo vulgaris. 



voirs, genital organs, &c. Mayer (Analekt. &c. « The so-called branchial hearts, which are want- 



loc. cit. p. 54) was the first to regard them as uri- ing with Nautilus, and which, it is supposed, pour 



nary organs, but this view was not commonly re- the blood into the branchiae with the other Cephal- 



ccived. The two peritoneal cavities containing opoda, are surrounded by a smooth peritoneal en- 



these organs, were also taken by hhn for urinary velope, and have, internally, a cavernous aspect ; 



bladders, and their orifices as urethrae. The same see Cuvier, M^m, PI. II. fig. 3, No. 9 (Octopus) ; 



function has also been attributed to these organs Carus, Erlaiiterungstaf. Hft. VI. 1843, Tab. II. fig. 



by Savi (Atti della terza riunione degli scienziati 18'. {Sepia). With the Loligina, a constriction sit- 



* [ § 255, note 1.] See also Milne Edwards, 1847, p. 1, Taf. I. His chemical, as well as his his- 



R^gne anim. loc. cit. PI. I", r. (Octopus). — Ed. tological results, can leave little doubtas to the Re- 



t [ § 255, note 6.] For this communication in nal nature of these organs. — Ed. 

 full with figures of Harless, see Wiegmann\i Arch. 



