SCHLOSSBERGER, ON CRYSTALS IN CATERPILLARS. 33 
im accordance with nature to assume that they are composed 
of fibrils, the transverse segments of which may be recog- 
nised in the Amphibia as minute, closely approximated 
points. 
3 No amorphous connective substance between the fibrille 
can be shown to exist by the microscope; but, on the other 
hand, there exists between them, at greater or less distances, 
an interstitial substance of peculiar morphological character, 
represented by serially disposed, pale granules. 
4. These granules, which exhibit considerable power of 
resistance towards caustic alkalies and acetic acid, are seen 
in longitudinal views of recent unchanged musular fibre, or 
in fibre which has been treated with caustic alkali, in their 
natural relations; whilst, under treatment with acetic acid, 
they appear like delicate streaks not unlike nucleated fibres. 
In transverse sections of muscle, they always present the 
appearance of a closer or wider punctation. 
5. The well-known fat-granules of muscular fibre are 
manifestly genetically connected with the granular streaks ; 
and, in fact, the fat-granules in the pale muscles may often 
be at once perceived to originate in the pale granules. 
6. The lacunar system described by Leydig has no ex- 
istence. The larger lacune of Leydig are the altered nuclei 
of the muscular fibres, the smaller the changed interstitial 
substance. 
7. The physiological imports of the interstitial granules is 
at present anything but clear. Many considerations would 
show the probability of their beimg connected with. the 
normal molecular changes in the muscles, but at the same 
time other suppositions are conceivable. 
On the Crystats contained in the Ma.pPicHIaN Vesseis of 
Carrrpittars. By J. Scuiosspercer, of Tubingen. 
(From Miiller’s ‘ Archiv,’ 1857, p. 61.) 
In the Malpighian vessels of a caterpillar (Hichenspinne- 
raupe) the microscope showed the contents to consist of 
numerous, brilliant, and colourless crystalline corpuscles, of 
