248 J. H. ASHWORTH. 



are probably homologous with those described by KoUiker 

 and Greef in Ephesia (Sphsarodorum). 



The cirri arise as solid outgrowths of the epidermis. From 

 their earliest appearance they contain gland-cells, which at 

 first are similar to the ordinary flask-shaped or club-shaped 

 glandular cells found in the epidermis of the squarish ele- 

 vations of the skin seen in the anterior third of the animal 

 (see p. 252 and fig. 12). The gland-cells of the cirri are at 

 first pear-shaped or club-shaped, and only about 10 — 12 /i 

 long. They stain deeply with hsematoxylin, and each has a 

 well-marked nucleus. The secretion is at this time of a 

 finely granular nature. As the cirri increase in size the 

 gland-cells elongate, and when the latter become 30 — 40 ju 

 in length, their secretion is then clearly seen to be in the 

 form of exceedingly tbin rod-like bodies. The cells continue 

 to elongate, and in worms only about 15 mm. long the gland- 

 cells are rather more than "1 mm. long (fig. 10). The 

 greater part of each cell is occupied by a bundle of fine rods, 

 but in favourable specimens the nucleus mny be seen towards 

 the rounded inner end of the cell. There is a small amount 

 of connective tissue around the bases of these rod-secreting 

 cells. In the largest specimens at my disposal, 35 mm. and 

 56 mm. long respectively, the gland-cells are twisted, and. so 

 closely packed together that it is almost impossible to 

 determine the limits of the individual cells. They form a 

 compact, deeply staining mass, situated a little behind the 

 tip of the cirrus (fig. 8). 



The very fine-pointed ends of the gland-cells open on the 

 free surface of the epidermis. On examination of medium- 

 sized specimens it is seen that most of the glands of the 

 notopodial cirrus open on its dorsal side, while those of the 

 ventral cirrus open chiefly on the ventral wall (fig. 9). 



The rods are at first short, and there are comparatively 

 few in each cell, but later they are much more elongate, and 

 present in large numbers in each cell. In the largest speci- 

 men (56 mm. long) the fully formed rods are 40 — 50 jjl in 

 length, and about 3 ^u in width at their widest point. They 



