458 FRANK E. BEDDARD. 
tine. I have already expressed doubts as to the correct- 
ness of this view, which a more detailed study has only 
strengthened. These cells cover not only the intestine but 
also the dorsal vessel, and this is so in all species (Hoffmeister 
knew that this was the case in Tubifex rivulorum). They 
are often more closely packed upon that vessel than upon the 
intestines. They appear to be more intimately attached to 
the vessel than to the digestive tube, because in certain 
species they are seen to cover that vessel, not only in that 
part of its course where it lies upon the intestine, but also 
where it lies upon the cesophagus. 
“In Lumbriculus variegatus, Grube, for example, the 
pigmented cells which do not cover the intestine until the 
sixth segment, are seen to cover the dorsal vessel from the 
fourth onwards. . . . The intimate relationship of these 
supposed hepatic cells to the vascular apparatus is also very 
evident in the true Lumbricide.” 
Further on Claparéde remarks that these cells “ probably 
get rid of their contents into the perivisceral cavity.” Pro- 
fessor Lankester pointed out, in the case of certain “ Limicole,” 
that the abundance of granules in the perivisceral fluid often 
depends on the condition of the glandular coating of the intes- 
tine of the dorsal vessel, and that this glandular coating may 
have “ a most important connection with the production of the 
corpuscles of the perivisceral fluid, and may serve to place this 
fluid in organic relation with the liquid of the closed vascular 
system of the intestine and contents of the digestive tract.” 
Vejdovsky (39, p. 112) has expressed the opinion that the 
chloragogen cells ‘with dark granular concretions most 
probably become free, and are absorbed by the ccelomic fluid, 
the small particles being removed to the exterior by the 
nephridia.” He has therefore, in the time of publication, 
the priority over Kiikenthal in putting forward these views. 
It is evident therefore that these authors had some sus- 
picion of the real nature of the part played by the chloragogen 
cells, which has been so admirably cleared up by Kiikenthal. 
An interesting contribution to this subject by Dr. Grobben 
