GLAND-LIKE BODIES IN THE BRYOZOA. 273 



These bodies I have, however, been better able to study in 

 Lepralia foliacea, wliere the position and shape of the avicularian 

 chamber is similar to that of L. margaritifera. The avicularian 

 chamber is very wide, in fact the full width of the zocecium, but 

 the glands are nevertheless curved under or over at the extremity 

 (PI. XIX. fig. 5). The surface of the gland shows a distinct 

 marking of a more or less vs'avy description (fig. 1, right hand), 

 and when sections are cut through the wall it is seen to be com- 

 posed of small elongate cells which are in some cases distinctly 

 nucleated (fig. 13). 



These glands or hollow bodies are not attached one to another 

 directly, but to the sheath which contains what we must at present 

 call the avicularian body, and this to me seems the most important 

 part of the avicularium ; but before passing to its description I 

 would point out that the glands of the avicularium and the sub- 

 oral glands are both attached to the respective sheaths, though 

 in the suboral glands the attachment occurs at the distal end by 

 the operculum. 



To return to the avicularium : there are some points which 

 have not been described, for though a cellular body in the avicu- 

 larium has long been known it has not been always made clear how 

 this occurs in a sheath probably to be looked upon as homologous 

 with the sheath enclosing the tentacles of the polypide. I have 

 not, however, been able in all specimens to distinguish an avicu- 

 larian sheath. This is very clear in Bicellaria moluccensis, Busk, 

 of the ' Challenger ;' it can also be seen in Diachoris magellanica ; 

 and in the Lepralia foliacea under discussion it is easily seen. 

 Inside the sheath hangs the cellular body, and in many avicularia 

 this " peculiar " or " tactile body "* of Busk seems to be double. 

 In Diachoris magellanica, Busk, although this "peculiar" body 

 protrudes out of the avicularium in the same way as in Bugula 

 jplumosa, I did not see in the specimens of Z>. magellanica examined 

 alive in Naples any setae, though in Bugula plumosaf in Trieste 

 they were easily recognized. I should, however, be glad to have 

 the opportunity of again examining live Diachoris under favour- 

 able circumstances. 



* " On Avicularia," &c., Quart. Journ. Mier. Sci. vol. ii. p. 26. 



t In Trieste I noticed that with clean and healthy BugulcB, out of the 

 Aquarium, there was no frequent snapping of the mandibles ; but on the other 

 hand the whole articulated avicularium was constantly moving deliberately 

 backwards and forwards with the beak open, and this was only rarely closed. 



