346 Prof. E. Claparede on the Sirudwe of the Annelida. 



tubular pores exist, we likewise find the large scattered glandular 

 pores. This description applies not only to the external cuticle, 

 but also to that of the pharynx when it attains a great thickness. 



The subcuticular layer (the dermis of M. de Quatrefages) 

 appears almost always to contain glandular follicles in all the 

 regions, even in the cirri and antenna?. These follicles discharge 

 themselves outwards through the glandular pores that I have 

 just described. Some of them only secrete a thick liquid ; others 

 produce bundles of bacilli in their interior (I shall indicate these 

 under the name of bacilliparous follicles) ; others, again, secrete 

 granules. 



The bibliography relating to the bacillar corpuscles of the 

 Annelida is already rich. To M. Max Miiller belongs the prio- 

 rity of the discovery of these organs, which he described and 

 figured from the skin of two larval forms and from that of Chcp.- 

 topterus. They have since been observed by Dr. iStrethill Wi-ight 

 in /Spfo, by M. F. Miiller in Cherusca, by M. Danielssen in Sca- 

 libregma, &c. I have myself devoted particular attention to 

 them. I have indicated them in the Phyllodocea, in a Tomo- 

 pteris (in concert with my friend Dr. Carpenter), in a Sphtero- 

 syllis, '\\\ Sphcerodorum, and in the Palmyrida ; and I have shown 

 that, under certain circumstances, the contents of these follicles 

 are suddenly dischai'ged outwards. M. KoUiker has completely 

 confirmed these observations. In the Phyllodocea M. Ehlers 

 has likewise found the bacilliparous follicles, and ascribed to 

 them the secretion of the mucosity. It is curious that observa- 

 tions so numerous as these should have entirely escaped the 

 author of the * Histoire Naturelle des Anneles.' 



Certain families have their integuments literally crammed with 

 bacilliparoiis follicles, even in the cirri and antennae. This is 

 the case especially in all the Spiodea and Ariciea and a great 

 part of the ChcRtopterea. Their abundance is also remarkable in 

 a great number of Phyllodocea and in some Hesionea. In the 

 latter, especially, their grouping and their relation to the excre- 

 tory pores are very remarkable. The function of these organs, 

 indeed, is still quite problematical. I formerly compared them 

 with the cells filled with aciculcc of the Turbellaria, and with 

 the urticatiiag organs of the Apneustic Mollusca, the Acalephse, 

 and Anthozoa; but this is pure hypothesis. 



The tubular glands filled with spherical granules were first 

 indicated by me in several Annelida. They sometimes attain a 

 very large size, particularly in the Lycoridea; and in this case 

 the glomerule formed by the interlacing of the glandular tubes 

 was known even to the older writers, and regarded by them as a 

 sac. M. de Quatrefages* was acquainted with one of the pas- 

 * Hist. Nat. des Anneles, tome i. p. 75. 



