112 Reviews and Records in Anatomy and Physiology. 
To perhaps make the matter more clear, fancy the human ali , 
mentary caval without an anal opening, with alternate stomachs 
throughout its course, filled with a semi-solid granular substance; 
and that directly through it ran a half-tube; and that each stom- 
ach had a folding in of its internal lining forming a globular body, 
the neck of which passed off at right angles by a continuation of 
the peritoneum, into a tube which connected with receptacles of 
nutrition ;—this would convey some idea of the most singular 
structure of the digestive canal of these animals. 
The food passes along the semi-canal or groove, is gradually 
absorbed by the spongy substance filling the dilatation, thence 
passes into the invested body by endosmotic absorption and is 
then conveyed as assimilated material into the fat-receptacles 
which lie in the cavity of the body. ‘These receptacles are store 
houses of nutriment and are particularly enlarged and develope 
during the larval condition,—their contents being used for the 
formation of the sexual parts afterwards. Now as there is n0 
vascular system in these animals, the dispersion of the nutrient 
material for the growth and substance of the various tissues must 
occur by permeation and endosmosis from the fat-bodies which 
extend over and between all the organs. This assimilation with 
out any particular excretion is a remarkable fact; but it appeals 
more conceivable when we bear in mind the economy of the 
animal. Its larval or parasitic state is like that of insects—merelf 
preparatory for the ulterior changes of its full development. Dut- 
ing this time its food is probably mostly pure fat which has only 
to be taken up and stowed away for material of the development 
of the reproductive organs. ‘This last ensues during a quiescent 
state, and after the full discharge of the sexual functions, the 
animals probably die. 
Genitalia.— Males.—The disparity in numbers of males and 
females was remarkably wide—our author having found only 
three males among several hundred specimens examined. *™ 
divides the internal organs into testis, vas deferens, vesicula sem 
inalis, and ductus ejaculatorius ; but these are all continuous, 
forming a cecal tube stretching from the anterior portion of t 
body to the caudal extremity. The testis consists of the infun- 
dibuliform cecal extremity of this tube and is lined with nucle- 
ated, epithelial (?) cells. rs 
The external organs consist of two penises situated one on 
each side of the Ductus ejaculatorius in a sheath. They 4% — 
composed of two somewhat curved half-canals disconnected when 
unprotruded with the internal organs; but when protracted, they 
form a more or less closed tube projecting beyond the external 
orifice of the duct. tee 
Females.—Meissner divides the internal female organs, which 
are double, into five portions: ovary, vitellus-organ, al ae 

