396 
regular intervals from one another (Fig. 10, 72). This layer may be 
designated as the electric layer and its nuclei, the electric nuclei. 
These nuclei form a single layer and are not found outside of the 
electric layer. The other structures found in this layer and by far 
the most interesting of the points noted in this tissue are a series of 
rod-like or thread-like objects running horizontally in this layer among, 
above, and below the nuclei and of various sizes and shapes (Fig. 5 
and 10, 74). 
These rods (I do not yet assert them to be the „stäbchen” of 
BALLOWITZ) are composed of some dense and tough material that 
Fig. 10. Oblique section through an electroplax. Shows a partial surface view 
of the electric layer with the electric nuclei (72) and the rod-like structures (14). 2 con- _ 
nective tissue nuclei; Numerals indicate the same as in the other figures. 
stains itself intensely in iron-haematoxlyn and reminds one of the 
dense and refractive material that is found in the nuclear membrane 
and in the cell-wall of plants. In form, the rod-like structures are 
always tapering at the ends and of various lengthes and thicknesses. 
Some are short and heavy in appearance while others ars long and 
thread-like. In size they vary from the thick rods of over 300 w in 
length down to small ones that do not excede 1 u. The longer ones 
are thread-like and are usually thinner than certain shorter rods of 
not more than 50 uw. The rods branch considerably and their course 
through the tissue is in general in one definite direction. The branches 
sub-divide and their ends are lost in the substance of the tissue 
(Fig. 10, 12). 
