WONDERS OF THE MICROSCOPE 247 



The dried skins of various fishes also offer 

 interesting and beautiful examples for the tyro to 

 investigate with the microscope. Fish scales are 



Fig. 166. Hairs of " woolly-bear " caterpillar 



contained in distinct membranous sacs of the cutis 

 or skin proper ; and above the scales is a fine 

 membrane or skin layer quite distinct from the 

 cutis, although the rough scaly bodies of some 

 fishes scarcely appear to the unaided eye to be 

 thus covered. The dried skins of the dog-fishes, 

 which latter are of common occurrence in British 



