740 



EDWIN S. GOODRICH. 



always^ so far as I have been able to ascertain, formed of a 

 bulky mass enclosing a coiled canal opening into the coeloni 

 by means of a small funnel, the edges of which are provided 

 with ciliated processes. The shape^ disposition, and number 

 of these processes, and of their cilia, differ in the various 

 genera (or sub-genera) and species ; but each is charac- 

 teristic of the species to which it belongs, and again the 

 general structure of the nephrostome is characteristic of the 

 family Lycoridea. For purposes of comparison, I have given 

 the nephrostomes of the Nereids Lipephile cultrifera, Gr. 

 (figs. 44, 45), Praxithea irrorata, Mgr. (fig. 41), Eu- 

 nereis longissima, Johnst. (figs. 42, 43). That of Alitta 

 virens, Sars, has already been figured by Cunningham (4), 

 and of Nereis diversicolor, O.F.M., and Nercilepas 

 fucata, Sav., by myself (8). Similarly in all the Phyllo- 

 docidte examined, the nephridium was found to be of 

 essentially the same structure; and the same may be said of 

 the genital funnel. It is evident that these organs cannot be 

 neglected in classification. 



Tabular Statement of the Relation of the Nephri- 

 dium to the Coelom, and to the Genital Funnel 

 in the Polychgeta. 



Nepliridium 



closed 

 internally. 



Nephridium 



open 

 iuterually. 



Genital funnel distinct, but opening ^ Plijliodocidse. 

 into uephridial canal may be ac- I Glyceridse. 

 quired at maturity. J Nephthyidse. 



Capitellidae. 



Genital funnel with independent ex- 

 ternal opeuiug. 



Genital funnel becomes connected 

 with the nephrostome, and loses 

 its primitive opening to the exte- 

 rior. 



(Lyco- 



? Nereidae 

 ridea). 



Hesionidae (all ?) 

 Syllidte. 

 Aphroditidae. 

 Eunicidae. 

 Spionidas. 

 Terebellidse. 

 Sabellidse. 

 Etc. etc. 



