292 THE CEPHALOPODA. § 255. 
eral aquiferous cells to the base of the branchiae, have, exteriorly, variously 
ramified, glandular tufts which project into the aquiferous cells. Some- 
times similar appendages are found also upon the principal veins which 
open, in these cells, into the venae cavae.” With Nautelus, which has 
on each side in the peritoneum four venae cavae, each of these last extends 
between two cells each of which receives a part of the glandular append- 
ages with which it is provided. 
These organs, for a long time known as the Spongy bodies, can now be 
regarded positively as kidneys; for, by chemical analysis, it has been 
proved that they secrete uric acid.” Careful examination of them has 
shown that their parenchyma consists of a tissue of contractile fibres, 
among which are spread branches coming from the venae cavae. . 
This parenchyma is surrounded by a structureless membrane, covered with 
several layers of nucleated granular cells. The urine is secreted from the 
external surface of this cellular layer ; it is of a dirty-yellcw color, and 
escapes immediately into the peritoneal cavities, and thence is discharged 
externally through their orifices, which may, therefore, be taken for ure- 
thral canals. These spongy appendages of the veins ought, therefore, to 
be regarded as everted glandular follicles, the secreting cells being situated 
externally and the blood-vessels within. Not unfrequently, the reddish 
crystals formed in the urine, completely incrust these glands, giving them 
their peculiar color.” 
The so-called Branchial hearts of the Dibranchiata contain no trace of 
muscular fibres, and appear to be in some way connected with the urinary 
organs. They are round, hollow, thick-walled, and lie upon the course 
of the venae cavae between the last renal masses‘of the branchiae, so that 
the blood of these veins passes into their cavities and bathes their spongy 
walls, © 
1 Cuvier, Mém. p. 18, Pl. II. fig. 1, 8, Pl. III. 
a 1, x. ae Wagner, Icon. zoot. Tab. XXIX, 
14, q.q, 16; Delle Chiaje, loc. cit. Tav. 
Texxvi. XCl. XCIIL. XCLX. (17, 21, 23, 19) ; 
Carus, Erlaiiterungstafeln, Hft. VI. Tab. IL fig. 15, 
17; Mayer, Analekten, Taf. V. fig. 1, 5.8. (Octo- 
pus); Grant, Transact. of the Zool. Soc. I. Pl. TI. 
fig. 8, a. b, Pl. XI. fig. 9, b. b. (Lodigopsis and 
Sepiola) ; 5 Van Beneden, joc. cit. Pl. iL. fig. 5, f. 
f. (Argonauta).* 
Krohn, in Miller’s Arch. 1839, p. 355, and 
Brandt, loc. cit. Taf. XXXII. fig. 2. x. 
3 Owen, On the Nautilus, p. 31, Bi V. No. 6, 
Pl. VI. fig. 1, No. 6, or Isis. p. oe, Taf. III. IV., or 
Ann. d. Sc. Nat. p. 126, Pl. IIL. fig. 1, 2; and Va- 
lenciennes, loc. cit. p. 286, Pl. X. fig. 2, 7. 
4 These appendages have been successively re- 
garded as absorbent vessels, a rudimental portal 
system, a spleen, accessory-branchiae, blood-reser- 
voirs, genital organs, &c. Mayer (Analekt. &c. 
loc. cit. p. 54) was the first to regard them as uri- 
nary organs, but this view was not commonly re- 
ceived. The two peritoneal cavities containing 
these organs, were also taken by him for urinary 
bladders, and their orifices as urethrae. The same 
function has also been attributed to these organs 
by Savi (Atti della terza riunione degli scienziati 
* [ § 255, note 1.] See also Milne Edwards, 
Régne anim. loc. cit. Pl. Ie. r. (Octopus). — Ep. 
t [ § 255, note 6.] For this communication in 
full with figures of Harless, see Wiegmann’s Arch. 
Their color is violet with the Octopoda, and pale-yellow with the 
tenuta nel Firenze, 1841, p. 396, or Isis, 1843, pr 
417). 
At my request, E. Harless, while at Trieste, sub~ 
jected these organs to a chemical analysis, and, as. 
he obtained from their contents purpurate of Am- 
monia, there can be no doubt that they are really 
kidneys. 
. 5 The contractility observed in these appendages: 
is due, without doubt, to this fibrous tissue (Krohn, 
in Froriep’s neue Notiz. XI. 1839, p. 214, and 
Erdi, in Wiegmann’s Arch. 1843, p. 162). 
6 J am indebted for this remarkable histological 
fact to a recent communication from Harless.t 
7 I have often found in the kidneys of the Sepia 
officinalis groups of rhomboidal crystals of a crim- 
son red color. Krohn (Froriep’s neue Notiz. XI. 
p. 215) has found them constantly with Sepia, but 
has sought in vain for them with Octopus, and 
Loligo vulgaris. 
8 The so-called branchial hearts, which are want- 
ing with Nautilus, and which, itis supposed, pour 
the blood into the branchiae with the other Cephal- 
opoda, are surrounded by a smooth peritoneal en- 
velope, and have, internally, a cavernous aspect 5 
see Cuvier, Mém, PI. II. fig. 8, No. 9 (Octopus) 5 
Carus, Erlatiterungstaf. Hft. vi. 1843, Tab. II. tig. 
181, (Sepia). With the Loligina, a constriction sit~ 
1847, p. 1, Taf. I. His chemical as well as his his- 
tological results, can leave little doubt as to the Re- 
nal nature of these organs. — Ep. 
