THE BLOOD OF MAGELONA. 5 
inch deep was tedious. ‘The method I adopted was as follows :— 
A number of living worms were taken, one by one, laid on 
blotting-paper, so as to dry them as much as possible; then, 
while holding them just above the stout piece of tube, I 
snipped the everted introvert or the thorax itself; the worms 
were then left head downwards over the tubing, and the blood 
gradually flowed out of the cut end down the side of the tube 
and collected at the bottom. A considerable number of worms 
had to be thus treated, and as the blood tends to coagulate the 
process occupied considerable time ; nevertheless I was able to 
collect what appeared to be a sufficient quantity of blood for 
spectroscopic examination. The result, however, was nil. 
I could obtain no absorption bands, though I used both bright 
sunlight and gaslight, and took all precautions to keep the 
light out of the apparatus except that which passed through 
the blood. I also employed solutions of blood in salt solu- 
tions and in water. These solutions were colourless, but I 
thought it possible that even then the colouring matter might 
give some result; but I was equally unsuccessful. 
I believe, then, that we must conclude that the colouring 
matter of the blood of Magelona causes no absorption bands 
when a beam of light passes through it, and is spectroscopically 
analysed. 
2. The Histology of the Blood.—The fact that all the 
reagents which I employed had greater or less action on the 
blood rendered difficult the ascertainment of the real structural 
condition of the fluid. The only way in which the true con- 
ditions could be studied was by compressing the worm and 
examining the fluid as it flows along the vessels ; for even the 
mere shedding of the blood, without the addition of reagents, 
might be supposed to produce certain alterations in its con- 
dition, though from what follows I do not thiuk this to be the 
case. The blood thus examined in situ is seen to consist of 
very small madder-rose coloured globules, varying in size within 
certain small limits. These globules choke the vessels, and 
there appears to be very little plasma. The appearance pre- 
sented in sections of worms fixed in Hermann’s solution is 
