VIII. On some Points in the Anatomy of Polypterus. 
By J. 8. Buveett, A., .Z.S., Trinity College, Cambridge. 
Received and read May 8, 1900. 
[Puates L.—LII.] 
Contents, 
Page 
ep lin trocirc Lontrterriesiaiaalsielsreiere) oie. Sis)s\cie stolen sieleVenevaveferae ele 323 
Thi, lie, Mee. Onsen coo up ogpaptepe o> updodDoo Dap eEscomeanona 324 
INT, Wag Ike OWS ong Gogosenneonan obondol Gododaotmaoee 325 
HY, WNNS LOCO coofcuDe codcuoonodoneDabocucHd anuoeuducd 327 
Wee henUir eters) -ricten: eben veyencrs ther dos clery accra visa) sh the okay duets et eyeve)-siese 328 
VI. General Considerations on the Structure and Growth of the 
(Uninorenitall Oreansmmnreracctee ie itiaadeek a Akane O20 
WAllee Abdominalee onesies rrpetreeciceseisisy sy eine) clei ererts ste cenrt evs voreneke 330 
VAMP Ph etAtnallbimtere vce yetcecraterecsrerettsets, stetssectas avereneie cle ate aeleltiatefelne 330 
EXE LhemVascnlars Sy Sberierteren-etemiiacttelelaiciae -icuerrts eletataers caer 331 
Xe Pho Cran tumnd sppsterste nro es the aay at ev ale iohel aves olen tenets 334 
Re Conclusion era crave tert Recat tele celevastedercbakets clataias Gureun tleuovonsr tas 334 
XG Biblionnra phiymecricrn stipe ase roratltepetoker sy sk-yepa) Voie kal syorear 334 
NUM Explanabionior theublates cist clei ieee cleleieiaereaskslajelsehate 335 
XIY. Explanation of the Lettering of the Figures ................ 338 
I. Introduction. 
HAVING obtained a large amount of material of both the species of Polypterus 
found in the Gambia, in the spring of 1899, I have thought it advisable to attempt 
to fill up some gaps in our knowledge of the anatomy of this most interesting of fishes. 
A great deal of work has already been done in this direction by such eminent 
zoologists as Agassiz, Geoffroy St.-Hilaire, Joh. Miiller, Leydig, and Hyrtl, as well as 
by numerous other authors in recent years. The anatomy of the head of Polypterus 
has been described in detail by Pollard, the brain by Waldschmidt, the skull by 
Traquair and by Bridge, while Hyrtl has described the blood-supply of the external gill. 
The foundation of this work of recent years had been laid, however, by Joh. Miiller 
in his ‘ Bau und Grenzen der Ganoiden.’ 
In the present paper I have, I believe for the first time, described in detail the 
urinogenital system of the male and female Polypterus, together with the later stages 
in the development of these organs. I have also added some observations upon the 
vascular system, the external gill, the abdominal pores, the anal fin, and the skull, 
VoL. XV.—Par? vit. No. 1.—April, 1901. 22 
