646 



MR. R. T. GTJNTHER ON 



Text-%. 172. 



[June 18, 



Young; Limnocnida, 2 millimetres in diameter. 

 The numerals indicate the orders of the tentacles. 



Endodermal Organ and Nutrition. — Among other problems 

 which yet remain to be solved is that of the function of the 

 remarkable accumulation of roundish cells in the circular 

 canal. These cells have several nuclei apiece and many have 

 one or two vacuoles. In the original description, an excretory 

 function was suggested on the assumption that these cells were 

 derived from the endoderm of the animal itself. On reexamining 

 this so-called endodermal oi'gan in better preserved material, I 

 have found amceboid cells among the others (PI. XXXYII. 

 fig. 3), but feel more than ever in the dark with respect to their 

 function, although probably it is in some way connected with 

 the metabolism of the medusa. We hope that some naturalist 

 having the opportunity may thoroughly investigate the method of 

 nutrition of the living animal, bearing in mind the possibility 

 of the growth of a parasitic or symbiotic fungvis or alga in such a 

 position. The wonderfully large mouth which the short manu- 

 brium seems inadequate to close, leads one to suspect some 

 such peculiarity in the nutrition of Limnocnida. 



