Some Points 011 the General Auatomy of Gyrocotyle. 729 



indicates that it may function in absorption for which it is also 

 adapted by its considerable area and thin cuticula. In any event 

 the mnscular mass is not developed to the excessive degree which 

 one meets in the ordinary sucker of cestode or trematode. The 

 longitudinal muscles are highly developed and in the alcoholic 

 specimens mach contracted so as to be strikingly conspicuous in 

 cross sections. 



The rosette folds do not contain follicles of the vitellaria. The 

 latter stop with the lateral ruffles between which and the rosette 

 folds there is always a distinct break, even tho in some cases the 

 contraction of the body brings the two structures in actual contact 

 so that the} T seem in consequence to be parts of one System. There 

 is actually no connection and the intermediate region, so marked in 

 G. urna as illustrated by various authors, can be demonstrated in 

 sections here also even tho the stem of the funnel is Short and thick. 

 When one views the rosette from the convex surface of the body. 

 it appears in proflle. separated from the pore of the rosette canal 

 by a distance less than half as great as the thickness of the rosette 

 itself. In some contracted specimens one can often see in the median 

 line, opposite the canal pore, a broad, wedge-shaped notch in the 

 rosette. On examining specimens in which the body is more extended 

 this notch is continued as a distinct median line traversing the organ 

 to its center and separating the folds distinctly into right and left 

 series so that the entire structure may be said to have the form 

 of a broken circle and might be correctly designated as hippocrepian 

 rather than circular. In expanded specimens of which the outer 

 portions of the rosette folds have sluffed off as described by Watson. 

 the bilateral character of the rosette is very clearly shown. The 

 folds stand here as two distinct series right and left of a median 

 furrow and the posterior view shows that the right series Swings 

 around the posterior end of this groove and joins with the left 

 series in a continuous line of similar folds. The posterior termi- 

 nation of the canal lies at the end of the groove and is hidden 

 deep at the base of the folds so that its exact location can be 

 determined only in sections. 



The anterior orifice of the rosette canal is found in the mid 

 dorsal line a short distance in front of the rosette. In specimen.- 

 moderately relaxed it appears as a small pore, often difficult to 

 locate precisely, and unaccompanied by any visible external structures 

 or markings. In contracted specimens one notes projecting folds on 



