66 FERNANDUS PAYNE. 



They commence at the inner surface of the retina by a broad 

 conical foot which extends into the ganglionic layer. Through 

 the inner reticular layer the fibers pass as fine filaments, but in 

 the inner nuclear layer each fiber is characterized by an irregu- 

 larly shaped nucleus, which stains densely and shows no struc- 

 ture. The membrana limitans externa is not visible. These 

 fibers differ but little from those in Anolis, except that those in 

 Anolis can be traced to the membrana limitans externa, which is 

 plainly visible. 



SUMMARY. 



1. The eye muscles have entirely disappeared. 



2. Only the uveal parts of the iris remain. 



3. The lens has retained its shape and position, but its struc- 

 ture has been greatly changed. No capsule is present. 



4. Harder's gland is many times larger than the eye and pours 

 its secretion into the conjunctiva! cavity and thence into the 

 mouth. 



5. The sclera, scleral cartilages, cornea, vitrous body and pig- 

 ment epithelium have undergone but little change unless it be in 

 the reduction in size. 



6. The cuticle passes over the eye unchanged. 



7. The aqueous cavity is no longer present. 



8. All the layers of the retina are still present. As shown in 

 Fig. 6, the great reductions in the depth of the layers, in com- 

 parison with those of Anolis, has taken place in the nerve fiber, 

 ganglion cell, inner reticular and inner nuclear layers. 



9. If the eye has been reduced from an eye of the average 

 size, all parts have certainly undergone considerable change, and 

 this change has been approximately equal among the several 

 parts. 



10. The retina does not show such a profound change as either 

 the iris, muscles or lens. However, it has been greatly changed, 

 as it extends only 50.7 per cent, of the distance around the eye. 



1 1. The eye of AuipJiisbicna bears out the statement made by 

 Eigenmann ("Eyes of the Blind Vertebrates of North America," 

 I.) that the more active parts of the eye are the ones to degene- 

 rate first. They are the parts which have been most affected. 



