4(H) WALTER E. CAMP 



independent vesicles, and both have a mucous secretion. The 

 secretion of this portion is discharged into the cavity of the 

 pharynx, while that of the independent portion of the gland is 

 collected in the vesicles. Although distending some of the vesi- 

 cles considerably, the secretion retains its granular, reticular 

 appearance and does not become 'colloidal.' From the fact 

 that some of the vesicles are completely isolated and that the 

 others, although intercommunicating, are still lacking in any 

 structure which could serve as an excretory canal, it may be 

 inferred that their secretion is taken up by the vasa lymphatica, 

 although no evidence of this process was observed. 



Since this paper is devoted solely to a study of the gland in 

 one form, the question of the homology of the suprapericadial 

 body with similar glands in other forms will be discussed only 

 briefly. Van Bemmelen did not find the suprapericardial bodies 

 in teleosts, but Supino ('07) describes postbranchial bodies in 

 Leptocephalus lying between the pharynx and pericardial wall, 

 and Giacomini ('09) found them not only in Leptocephalus but 

 also in adult Anguilla. These bodies are easily differentiated 

 from the thyreoid and are undoubtedly homologous with the 

 suprapericardial bodies of selachians. In Stomias boa, Nus- 

 baum-Hilarowicz ('16) describes a small paired gland lying in 

 the connective tissue, ventral to the pharynx. Caudally the 

 two glands are united. Each portion of the gland is formed 

 of a number of tortuous tubules, surrounded by epithelial strands 

 and capillaries. The tubules are lined by a cylindrical, ciliated 

 epithelium, and contain a granular secretion. This structure, 

 which Nusbaum-Hilarowicz considers a heretofore undescribed 

 ductless gland, corresponds very closely to the postbranchial 

 body found in other teleosts and can be homologized'with the 

 suprapericardial body of selachians. 



De Meuron ('86) describes small epithelial bodies arising 

 behind the last gill-pouch in amphibians, reptiles, birds and 

 mammals which he calls accessory thyreoids and which he con- 

 siders as homologues of the suprapericardial body of selachians. 

 From De Meuron's description, as Maurer ('87) has already 

 pointed out, it is very probable that De Meuron has confused 



