206 MOLLUSCA. 



The stomach runs backward horizontally ; its fore-part 

 had an inflated look when seen from the side, and, when 

 from below, that of possessing two lateral lobes. The food 

 after accumulating here was observed to be pressed onward 

 to the hinder portion, leaving a narrow opake line of con- 

 nexion with the oesophagus ; the rest of the fore-part, of 

 which the apparent volume was nearly as before, having an 

 ochreous tint ; this was inferred to be the liver, enveloping 

 the stomach above and on the sides, and accords with its 

 place in other ascidiae and mollusca. The line is continu- 

 ed by the intestinal canal that rises and then bends forward, 

 taking the form of a reversed S, and terminates in an as- 

 cending rectum and sphincter. The faeces are considerable, 

 as might be expected, where- the food is taken with so little 

 discrimination. Transparent vessels, that may be supposed 

 lactaels, ramify along a part of the intestine and meet at a 

 collection of globular bodies, from whence two flattish lobes 

 extend backward ; in others these are wanting. From the 

 meeting of the vessels two branches ran, one downwards 

 and backwards, which was lost under the stomach, the other 

 forwards ; and from the direction it took, I suppose it might 

 communicate with a main stream of blood near the heart. 

 Some individuals had not the projection above the vent 

 observable in others. 



But the part that struck me as most remarkable in this 

 creature was the circulation, of which a good view can be 

 obtained through the transparent coat, for the particles of the 

 blood are numerous, and, though not uniform in size or shape, 

 are mostly between '00025 and -0002 inch in diameter, and 

 approaching to globular. They are easily measured, as in 

 the intervals between the spiracles, they pass mostly but one 

 at a time. 



