On the blood circulation and metabolism of sabellids

Abstract

Sabellid worms are distinguished by having the respiratory pigment chlorocruorin in their blood. A series of communications has dealt with the properties of chlorocruorin and with peculiarities of the blood system of worms possessing this pigment (Fox 1926, 1932, 1933, 1934; Fox and Roche 1933; Roche and Fox 1933). In the present paper various aspects of the blood circulation, the functions of the tube and the metabolism of sabellids will be considered. The work was done at the Station maritime de Biologie, Tamaris-sur-Mer, on the Mediterranean coast of France, and at Birmingham with animals sent from Plymouth. I wish to thank Professor H. Cardot, Director of the Tamaris Station, most heartily for his welcome and help. The experiments at Tamaris were done withSpirographis spallanzaniiViviani and those at Birmingham withSabella pavoninaSavigny andDasychone bombyx(Dalyell). YoungSpirographis spallanzaniiwere also used in Birmingham for the experiments on tropisms.