84 THE FEESHWATER MUSSEL 



mantle-eavity. The outer gill is, in the female, 

 often greatly distended with embryos. 

 e. The labial palps are two pairs of triangular folds 

 lying at the sides of the anterior part of the vis- 

 ceral mass, between the anterior adductor and the 

 gills. Each pair consists of a couple of lamellae, 

 of about equal size, attached along their dorsal 

 borders to the body-wall, and marked on their 

 apposed surfaces by close-set transverse ridges. 



7. The external apertures. 



a. The mouth is in front, between the anterior adductor 



and the anterior border of the foot. 



Pass a seeker into the mouth, and note that it passes verti- 

 cally upwa/rds behind the anterior adductor, into the stomach. 



The mouth is bordered by anterior and pos- 

 terior lips, formed by the labial palps. The outer 

 palp is continuous with its fellow of the opposite 

 side, forming a low ridge-like anterior lip, imme- 

 diately behind the anterior adductor. In a similar 

 manner the two inner palps are continuous with 

 each other and form a posterior Hp, in front of 

 the foot. 



The deep groove between the outer and inner 

 palps of each side thus leads directly into the 

 mouth. The palps are richly ciliated, so that 

 any food-particles thg^come within the range of 

 their action are swept iSto the groove and carried 

 forwards to the mout|i. 



b. The anus opens into the cloacal cavity, close to its 



external opening. 



Insert a seeker into the groove between the margins of the 

 mantle-lobes above the posterior adductor, and pass it back 

 over the adductor into the cloacal cavity. Slit up this canal 

 so as to expose thoroughly the hinder] part of the rectum, and 

 the amis. 



Insert a seeker into the anus and pass it upwa/rds and 



