500 Mr. C. R. Naiajana Rao on the Anatomy of 



of cells can be discovered. The marginal portions of the 

 processes are fringed by fairly large club-sbaped cells, not 

 unlike the solenocytes of polychiete worms with perhaps 

 similar functions. ' Broken and degenerate setse are also 

 found obviously in the process of elimination through the 

 alimentary canal. The basal parts are occupied by large 

 pyramidal and polygonal cells, with either a single large 

 vacuole as in the former or numerous smaller vacuoles as in 

 the latter case. The tapering portion of the pyramidal cells, 

 which is also the region of vacuoles, extends into the 

 peripheral portion of the appendage, while a fairly rich net- 

 work of capillaries surrounds the basal tissue elements. 

 The mode of elimination of setse must he through the 



A portion of t!ie enteric appendage mounted in glycerine. 



C.c, club-shaped cells ; S., broken setae ; P.c., pyramidal cells ; Pole, 

 polyoonal cells ; B.v., blood-vessel ; Vac, vacuoles ; D., organic 

 debris. 



blood-vessels entering the alimentary canal, while the 

 debris of waste matter also found in the appendages must 

 be carried to the nephridia by the blood-vessels to be 

 discharged outside. But their main function is probably to 

 act as water-storing organs. When fresh specimens are 

 examined, the large vacuoles present in the basal cells are 

 seen to contain quantities of water, apparently imbibed in 

 the heavy wet weather to be utilised during periods of more 

 or less prolonged drought. These appendages are not, 

 however, the oidy water-conserving organs. The anterior 

 nephridia (Peptonephridia) in somites 3, 4, 5, which open 

 into the pharynx and accordingly are deemed salivary glands, 

 differ structurally in certain particulars from the segmental 

 renal organs. In the main lobt s of the former nephridia. in 

 addition to the non-ciliated glandular \^ide tubes, we find 

 other similar wide canals uhici. follow a tortuous course, and 



