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212 APPENDIX, 
innervated distally, they correspond to the “Nervenknipe” of Acerina 
cernua, but Leydig (1879, p. 163) says concerning these that the con- 
nective tissue of the swelling, which surrounds the nerves and blood vessels 
is tender, nearly gelatinous, It seems therefore that they do not belong to 
the class of structures designated as “Nervenknépfe.” The essential differ- 
ence, the absence of a cylinder epithelium in the buds of Malthopsis, can in 
so far not be relied upon, as it may be present in the living fish and absent 
in the specimen examined only because it has fallen off on account of its 
perishable nature; the circumstances however that the organs are entirely 
surrounded by a cuticle and that the tender and perishable sensitive epithe- 
lium would, if present, be coverless and exposed, make it appear improbable 
that such is the case, 
Concerning the physiological function of the organs it must be borne 
in mind that they must either be radiating or sensory, because so rich an 
innervation must have some purpose. The general appearance of the organs, 
their semispherical shape and the abundance of connective tissue in them 
are in favor of the latter view and make it probable that the function per- 
formed by them is the perception of hydrostatic pressure, a knowledge of 
which must be of great importance to any fish able to live only within cer- 
tain bathymetrical limits. 
