52 H. W. MARETT TIMS. 
déméler’’ (p. 165). The summary of his observations may 
be given in his own words: “ Chaque plan fibreux n’offre pas 
le méme texture dans toute son étendue; dans sa portion 
centrale, c’est-a-dire celle qui correspond au _ centre 
d’accroissement, il est formé de fibres entre-croissées a angle 
droit ; dans sa portion périphérique, il se compose de faisceaux 
fibreux, entrelacés sous divers angles et décrivant, soit des 
arcades, soit des courbes de diverses natures. ‘Toutes les 
fibres du bord pérephérique semblent se perdre dans la 
couche extérieure de l’écaille ou elles prennent une direction 
plus ou moins paralléle a celle des crétes concentriques ” 
(p. 174). This description accords in the main with my own 
observations. It is possible that the scales of the perch, upon 
which Baudelot chiefly founded his assertions, may present 
a greater complexity, more particularly, as will be shown 
subsequently, there is reason to believe that degenerative 
changes are in progress in at least some species of cod. So 
far as I have been able to observe no difference exists in 
the general arrangement of the fibres in any of the species of 
cod examined. 
Sections through the scale merely show the various fibrous 
lamelle. I have been unable to detect the presence of any 
corpuscles; if they exist, they must be very minute. Neither 
have I met with any of the calcareous masses described 
by Wilhamson. ‘here are, however, numerous delicate 
vertical tubes traversing the substance of the scale and which 
probably subserve a nutritive function. They are particularly 
in evidence beneath the centrum of the scale. ‘l'hey may 
possibly represent Williamson’s Lepidine tubules, or they 
might be regarded as Volkmann’s canals, though the absence 
of corpuscles would tend to negative the latter interpretation. 
Upon the upper surface of the fibrous layer are placed the 
translucent calcified scalelets, which, in the recent condition, 
are closely invested by the delicate outer wall of the scale 
pocket. Ifthe scale be stained while this membrane is in 
situ the whole surface becomes uniformly tinted. On re- 
moval of the membrane the scalelets are quite unstained, 
