540 



CEPHALOPODA. 



Fig. 225. 



Circulating and respiratory organs Cuttle-fish.* 



form thin colourless pyriform sacs, extending ways thicker and more turbid than the blood 

 nearly an inch from the vein. They are ar- which circulates in the vein. The elongated 

 ranged in distinct clusters, and are relatively cells of the Poulp yield in like manner an 

 shorter in Argonauta. In Sepioteuthis the opake and yellow mucus. ^Some physiologists 

 whole extent of the superior and inferior trunks suppose that the secreted matter is not expelled 

 of the veins contained in the pericardium pre- by the orifices of the sacs into the veins to be 

 sent an uniform and continuous cellular en- mixed with the current of blood, but that the 

 largement of their parietes. In Loligo the venous blood passes into the cells by those 

 coats of the corresponding veins in like man- apertures, and that the matter secreted from it 

 ner present only a spongy thickening. In exudes from the parietes of the cells or follicles 

 Sepia the cells are more elongated, but are into the great serous cavity surrounding them, 

 large, irregular, and flocculent (c, c, Jig. 225), Mayer, considering that the urine is secreted 

 and continued without interruption not only from venous blood in the lower vertebrate 

 upon the divisions of the vena cava (a), but animals, regards these venous appendages as 

 upon the visceral veins, two of which (b>b) the renal organs of the Cephalopods; the serous 

 present remarkable dilatations. sacs (h t fig. 226), therefore, which Cuvier calls 

 In Loligopsis the venous follicles are in the t great venous cavities,' and which we have 

 distinct groups, as in Nautilus ; and Rathke termed the * pericardium,' the German Physi- 

 describes them as presenting a laminated and ologist calls the ' urinary bladder;' and the 

 glandular structure. papillary orifices (i) leading into the branchial 

 With respect to the function of these bodies or excrementory chamber, which we have corn- 

 nothing is as yet definitely known. They are pared with the orifices leading from the peri- 

 well supplied with blood from the neighbouring cardium of the Ray and Sturgeon into the 

 arteries, and are undoubtedly glandular ; but peritoneal cavity of the abdomen,f Mayer calls 

 the matter which they secrete has not yet been the urethrae. It must be observed, however, 

 subjected to chemical analysis. If the spongy that this Physiologist does not advance any 

 coats of the vena cava of a Calamary be proof from chemical analysis in support of his 

 pressed, a whitish fluid escapes, which is al- theory. Cuvier, on the other hand, believing that 



the water of the branchial chamber might have 

 access by the orifices to the cavities containing 

 the appendages in question, supposes that they 



* From Home's Comparative Anat. vol. iv. See 

 the original figure and description by Hunter, in 

 Descr. Catalogue of Mus. R. Coll. of Surgeons, 

 vol. ii. pi. xxii. 



t Memoir on the Nautilus, p. 



