STAGES G TO K. THE FINS. 319 



system arose as an involution from the exterior, and therefore 

 that the epidermis lining it is in reality merely a part of the 

 external epidermis, and as such is naturally separated from the 

 true nervous structures adjacent to it 1 . 



Leaving the general features of the external skin, I pass to the 

 special organs derived from it during the stage just anterior to K. 



Tlie unpaired Fins. The unpaired fins have grown consider- 

 ably, and the epiblast composing them becomes, like the remainder 

 of the layer, divided into two strata, both however composed of 

 more or less columnar cells. The ventral fin has now become 

 more prominent than the dorsal fin ; but the latter extends 

 forward as a fold quite to the anterior part of the body. 



The paired Fins. Along each side of the body there appears 

 during this stage a thickened line of epiblast, which from the 

 first exhibits two special developments : one of these just in front 

 of the anus, and a second and better marked one opposite the 

 front end of the segtnental duct. These two special thickenings 

 are the rudiments of the paired fins, which thus arise as special 

 developments of a continuous ridge on each side, precisely like 

 the ridges of epiblast which form the rudiments of the un- 

 paired fins. 



Similar thickenings to those in Elasmobranchs are found at 

 the ends of the limbs in the embryos of both Birds and Mammals, 

 in the form of caps of columnar epiblast 2 . 



The ridge, of which the limbs are special developments, is 

 situated on a level slightly ventral to that of the dorsal aorta, 

 and extends from just behind the head to the level of the anus. 

 It is not noticeable in surface views, but appears in sections 

 as a portion of the epiblast where the cells are more columnar 

 than elsewhere ; precisely resembling in this respect the forward 

 continuation of the dorsal fin. At the present stage the posterior 

 thickenings of this ridge which form the abdominal fins are so 

 slight as to be barely visible, and their real nature can only 

 be detected by a careful comparison between sections of this and 

 the succeeding stages. The rudiments of the anterior pair of 



1 Vide Self, "Development of Spinal Nerves in Elasmobranchs." Phil. Transact. 

 1876. [This Edition, No. VIII.] 



2 For Birds, vide Elements of Embryology, Foster and Balfour, pp. 144, 145, and 

 for Mammals, Kolliker, Entwicklungsgeschichte, p. 283. 



