51 
On the so-called HEPATIC CELLS of the EARTH- 
WORM (Lumbricus terrestris). 
By A. J. CHALMERS, Student of Science, 
AND 
R. J. Harvey Grsson, M.A., F.R.S.E., 
LECTURER ON BOTANY IN UNIVERSITY COLLEGE, LIVERPOOL. 
With Plate VII. 
[Read 23rd April, 1887.] 
(Tue following notes on the much debated question as to 
the nature and function of the yellow cells surrounding 
the intestine of Lwmbricus terrestris were compiled during 
the Lent term of 1886 by Mr. A. J. Chalmers, a student 
in the Zoological Laboratory of University College, 
Liverpool. My share in the paper has been confined to 
revising and checking his results, and to adding such 
general observations as these results seemed to lead to.— 
m=. J. H. G.]) 
The so-called hepatic tissue of the oligochete alimentary 
canal has been the subject of not a few researches, of 
which the chief perhaps are the following :— 
Henle* describes a villous glandular envelope surround- 
ing the intestine of many annelids, as for example in 
the genera, Lumbricus, Lumbriculus, and Nais. Willt 
confirmed MHenle’s observations, and from a chemical 
examination of the tissue concluded that the cells contained 
elements which were undoubtedly hepatic in their nature. 
Sieboldi describes a yellowish-brown or greenish-yellow 
* Miiller’s Arch. 1837, p. 81. 
+ Miiller’s Arch. 1848, p. 508. 
=~ Anatomy of the Invertebrata. 1854, p. 167, 
4-2 
