356 J, E. BLOMFIELD. 



The caliciform, or goblet cells, are similar to those found 

 in other parts in other animals, as described by F. E. Schultze, 

 and do not call for a lengthened description. 



The club cells are much larger than the other elements of 

 the epidermis, and are at once recognised by the yellow 

 colour they assume after treatment with picrocarmine. 

 They appear to consist of a membrane enclosing the yellow 

 contents, which have a lamellated arrangement. At one 

 pole of the oblong cell two nuclei are always present. As 

 regards their origin and fate, M. Foettinger observed that 

 they originated in the deep layer of the epidermis among 

 the cells resting on tlie dermis, from which they were soon 

 capable of being distinguished by their increasing size and 

 tendency to yellow coloration with picric acid. As maturity 

 is being reached, both these characters become more marked, 

 and the cell itself slowly makes for the superficial layers of 

 the epiderm. When it has reached this point it raises the 

 superficial cells and is discharged to the exterior, where it 

 may be seen resting, devoid of nucleus, on the superficial 

 cells. As it progresses to the surface it leaves a finely 

 granular mass behind to mark its course. 



These bodies were supposed by former writers to be mus- 

 cular (Max Schultze) or nervous (Kolliker) in nature ; but, 

 as M. Foettinger states, there can be little doubt that their 

 function is glandular. 



The granular cells are spherical or ovoid in shape, and 

 lie embedded among the ordinary epidermic cells. Each 

 possesses a nucleus surrounded by coarsely granular fluid 

 material, which forms the cell substance, and the whole is 

 enclosed by a membrane. From the side of the cell next 

 the dermis several fine processes are seen, which dip down 

 among the lower cells, and may reach the epidermis ; in 

 which case they terminate in an expanded base, similar to 

 the epidermic cells found in this situation. Picrocarmine 

 is the best reagent to distinguish them from the surround- 

 ing elements, as it stains them a bright red. They originate 

 from ordinary epidermic cells in the deepest layer of the 

 epidermis, and grow upwards, always remaining in contact 

 with the dermis by their processes, till they reach the ex- 

 ternal layers of the epidermis, where they serve some 

 purpose at which M. Foettinger will not hazard a guess. 



General Ejnderm of Myxine. 



We will now pass on to the consideration of the epidermis 

 in Myxine. On examining a section of the body-wall of a 

 Myxine which has been stained with picrocarmine — for this 



