862 
GEORGE C. PRICE 
the other hand, was unable to find that it possessed any of the 
characteristics of a glomerulus, and concluded that it had arisen 
from the modified epithelium of the inner ends of the tuDules. 
Maas' work on young individuals seems to demonstrate the 
correctness of Spengel's view. This peculiar tissue is not found 
in Bdellostoma stouti, unless it be represented by the above- 
mentioned modified epithelium of part of the central duc+. But 
this is never large in amount, nor is it supplied with arteries. 
The distribution of arteries in the head kidney of Myxine, well 
shown in the young individuals studied by Maas, is of interest 
as suggesting the possibility of glomeruli having once been 
present throughout the entire length of the excretory organ. 
In examining sections of the head kidne^ blood corpuscles were 
observ^ed in both the tubules and the duct; and since the duct 
communicated directly with the vein, and since the tubules were 
ciliated and opened into the pericardial cavity, and since further, 
the pericardial cavity communicated through a large opening 
with the peritoneal cavity, the thought naturally presented 
itself that perhaps a function of the head kidney was to transfer 
lymph from the body cadty into the blood vessels. 
In order to test this theory, normal salt solution containing 
powdered carmine in suspension was injected into the peritoneal 
cavity through the abdominal pore. Twenty-four hours later 
blood both from the subcutaneous space and from the ventral 
aorta was examined, and every drop showed particles of carmine, 
some free and some within the white corpuscles. When the body 
cavity was opened carmine was found in the pericardial cavity 
as well as in the peritoneal cavity. From another animal a living 
head kidney was removed and examined under the microscope 
in salt solution. Powdered carmine was added, and particles 
were actually seen being swept into and through the tubules by 
the action of the large and rapidly moving cilia. 
While these experiments prove that particles may and actually 
do pass from the coelom into the blood vessels, they do not demon- 
trate the fact that they go by way of the head kidneys; they might 
possibly go in some other way. Still it is hard to escape the con- 
clusion that this is one of the ways in which the transfer is made. 
