Note 43 — 1. Family BALANIDÆ, (or Sessile Cirripedes). (continued 2)

I have always feared that anatomists would reject my view of these organs being acoustic, owing to the absence of otolithes; but I observe that so high an authority as Von Siebold (‘Anatomie Comparée,’ tom. i, p. 433) does not believe that otolithes occur in the acoustic organs even of the highest Crustacea. He considers an “ampoule volumineuse, a parois mince, remplie d’un liquide transparent,” and a “membrane tympanique,” though having a fissure in the centre, as sufficient. I may here remark, that the nerve proceeding from the acoustic vesicle in Cirripedes, and apparently running to the splanchnic nerve, may easily be placed in connexion with the antennular nerves, by the second plexus (m) in figs. 1 and 2, pl. 27. I should infer from Von Siebold’s remarks on his ampoule volumineuse in the higher Crustacea, that my acoustic vesicle answered to the labyrinth in higher animals.