320 NATURAL SCIENCE. May, 



Stannius) in teleosts. In the Teleostei the cortex only is present. 

 The bodies are much fewer in number, usually two rounded or oval- 

 shaped bodies of a pale pink colour, situated on the dorsal or ventral 

 surface, usually in the posterior region, of the kidney. Sometimes 

 they are imbedded in the substance of the kidney. Diamare (6), 

 Pettit (15) and Vincent {25) have all described the suprarenal bodies 

 of teleosts as usually being two in number. Writing of these organs 

 in the Gadidae, Mr. Vincent says (25, p. 58), " there is a considerable 

 variation in number and size of the suprarenals, although their shape 

 is nearly always rounded. As for number, two must be regarded as 

 the rule, but there is even more variation in this respect than in the 

 Pleuronectidae. Thus, in a specimen of Gadus movrhiia I have found 

 as many as five ; in G. merlangus I have found only one. I have 

 occasionally found one also in Molva vulgaris. In Mevkiccius vulgaris I 

 have found in one case as many as five ; in this case the suprarenal of the 

 left side was represented by four small bodies instead of one larger one. 

 Their position is usually one on each side, but, as in other families, 

 the right and left are rarely on the same level, one being usually 

 anterior or posterior to the other. They also vary as to their relation 

 to the middle line, some being more lateral, others more central. 

 The suprarenals in this family are almost always visible on the 

 ventral surface of the kidney, though they may (either one or both) be 

 lateralised, or even exceptionally may be partially on the spinal 

 surface. They are usually more or less imbedded in the kidney 

 substance." 



Similar statements to the above are to be found in the writings 

 of other workers. I have merely quoted Mr. Vincent as being the 

 latest. 



In a dissection of Gadus morrhua now before me, I find in addition 

 to the bodies mentioned above, numerous small bodies, varying 

 greatly in size scattered throughout the substance of the kidney. I 

 have isolated thirteen from the posterior region. Whether or not 

 similar bodies are present in the substance of the kidney of other 

 Teleosts I cannot now say ; but the point is one deserving special 

 attention from workers on this subject, as from their naked eye 

 appearance these structures seem to be small suprarenal bodies, and 

 might be termed accessory suprarenals. 



In the Dipnoi, Pettit (15) has described the suprarenals, but he 

 does not say whether the cortex and medulla are present. Vincent 

 (22), from a priori considerations, had previously pointed out that 

 suprarenals were " almost certainly present." 



Thus, from the researches of Fusari, Diamare, Pettit, and Vincent 

 we may draw the following conclusions : — 



1. That suprarenal bodies are present in all fishes. 



2. That the interrenal bodies of elasmobranchs correspond to the 



suprarenal bodies of teleosts, and to the cortex of the supra- 

 renal bodies of higher vertebrates. 



