426 ZOOLOGY sect. 



ring-like circum-orcd vessel (ring-vessel) in nearly all cases sends off 

 a series of radial branches, one passing along each of the rays or 

 ambulacral areas and giving off branches to the ampullse of the 

 tube-feet or to the tentacles. In most of the Holothuroidea 

 branches pass forwards to the circlet of shield-shaped or branched 

 oral tentacles, and in some cases there are vesicles or ampul/a: at 

 their bases. In the Apoda, in which tube-feet are wanting, radial 

 vessels are also absent, and the vessels to the tentacles come off 

 directly from the ring-vessel. In all the classes, except Crinoidea, 

 one or more bladder-like appendages — the Polian vesicles — are in 

 most cases connected with the ring-vessel. The racemose vesicles, or 

 Ticdemaviis vesicles (p. 383), are characteristic of the Asteroidea. In 

 all, except the Crinoidea and the majority of the Holothuroidea, 

 there is a communication between the ring- vessel and the surround- 

 ing water through the madrcjwric eanal. In the Asteroidea, and in 

 Cidaris among the Echinoidea, the wall of this tube is strengthened 

 by numerous calcareous ossicles. In the Asteroidea, Ophiuroidea, 

 and Echinoidea, the communication with the exterior is through 

 the madreporite. The fine pores perforating the madreporite 

 and placing the madreporic canal in communication with the 

 exterior, and the madreporic canal itself, are lined with strong cilia 

 which move so as to drive a strong current inwards — the effect 

 being to keep all parts of the ambulacral system in a condition of 

 turgidity. In the few Holothuroids in which such a communication 

 exists (iHasipoda) there is usuallj' a simple opening, but sometimes 

 a number of pores crowded together. In the remainder of the 

 Holothuroidea the distal end of the madreporic canal, or canals, 

 lies free in the interior of the body-cavity, with which it is placed 

 in communication by a number of perforations. In the Crinoidea 

 there is no madreporic canal ; but the ring- vessel is placed in 

 communication with the coelome by means of a system of ciliated 

 icater-tuhcs, while the coelome communicates with the exterior 

 through a number of minute ivater-pores, which perforate the 

 oral body-wall. The fluid contained in the ambulacral system 

 is similar to that in the coelome, and contains similar corpuscles. 

 In one Ojohiuroid, however, the ambulacral system contains 

 corpuscles coloured red with hemoglobin. Tiedemann's vesicles 

 appear to have the function of manufacturing the corpuscles. 



It cannot be definitely stated that a blood-vascular system 

 exists in the Echinoderms. But two systems have been regarded 

 as playing the part of blood-vessels — the 'perihoimal system and 

 the hcema-l system. Neither (if these systems comprises vessels 

 with contractile walls, and there is no definite circulation of 

 the contained fluid. The perihaemal, or, as it is sometimes 

 termc(l, pseudoha'mal system, is present in all the classes of the 

 phylum. When typieully developed (Aster<jidea, Ophiuroidea) it 

 consists of a ring-like circum-oral vessel or sinus and five radial 



