VII 



MOLLUSCATHE NEPHRIDIA 



221 



pericardium as a simple median tube. Anteriorly it is connected with the peri- 

 cardium by a funnel, and near the middle communicates with the exterior by means 

 of a lateral urinary duct (Fig. 19, p. 12). 



C. Scaphopoda (Fig. 165, p. 193). 



Dentalium has a pair of symmetrical kidneys, one on each side of the hind-gut. 

 Each nephridium consists of a sac provided with short diverticula. The two nephri- 

 dia are connected by a tube above the anus, and open into the mantle cavity by 

 two apertures at the sides of the anus. If, as maintained by all authorities, there 

 are no reno-pericardial apertures, the Scaphopoda would be the only group of Molluscs 

 in which these apertures are entirely absent. Apart from the symmetry of the 

 kidneys, a fact to be specially noted is that the genital products pass out of the 

 genital gland into the right kidney (either by the bursting of the wall between the 

 two organs or through an aperture), and only reach the exterior, i.e. the mantle 

 cavity, through the right renal aperture. 



It must, further, be noted that near the anus on each side, between it and the 

 renal aperture, a pore, the water-pore, occurs, the function of which is still doubt- 

 ful. If these pores really lead into the blood lacunar system of the body, as was 

 formerly maintained, and is still held to be possible, this would be the only known 

 case of the direct imbibition of water into the blood. 



D. Lamellibranchia. 



The nephridium (organ of Bojanus) is always paired and symmetrical, and lies 

 below the pericardium and in 

 front of the posterior adductor. 

 Each nephridium is tubular or 

 sac-like, opening at one end 

 through a funnel into the peri- 

 cardium, and at the other into 

 the mantle cavity. This com- 

 munication of the kidney with 

 the mantle cavity always takes 

 place above the cerebrovisceral 

 connective. 



The lowest Lamellibranchia 

 (Protobranchia, Nucula, Leda, 

 Solenomya) are distinguished 

 in two ways. (1) Each nephri- 

 dium is a simple tube, with a 

 free cavity not traversed by 

 trabeculee or lamellae. This 

 tube consists of two portions 

 which unite posteriorly at an FIG. 184. Transverse section through the body of Ano- 

 angle ; the anterior end of one don * a showing the pericardium the heart, and the kidney, 

 ' . combined and diagrammatised from figures by Griesbach. 



or these portions enters the Not all the parts re p reseu t e d occur on the same section. 1, 

 pericardium through the renal Pericardium ; 2, ventricle ; 3, auricles ; 4, hind - gut ; 5, 

 funnel, the other end opens venous sinus ; 6, reno-pericardial aperture (funnel) ; 7, renal 

 into the mantle cavity. (2) sac or cavit y : 8 - vestibular cavity, which at 9 enters the 

 rp, . , M_I i j j mantle cavity through the nephridial aperture ; 10, genital 



The paired genital _ glands do aperture; n ; base of e the ioot . 



not open outward directly, but 



enter the kidneys near their pericardial funnel a fact which is very important in 



