C 323 ] 



VIII. On some Points in the Anatomy of Polypterus. 

 By J. S. Budgett, M.A., F.Z.S., Trinity College, Cambridge. 



Received and read May 8, 1900. 



[Plates L.-LIL] 



Contents, 



Page 

 I. Introduction 323 



II. The Male Organs 324 



III. The Female Organs 325 



IV. The Kidneys 327 



V. The Ureters 328 



VI. General Considerations on the Structure and Growth of the 



Urinogenital Organs 328 



VII. Abdominal Pores 330 



VIII. The Anal Fin .- 330 



IX. The Vascular System 33L 



X. The Cranium 334 



XI. Conclusion 334 



XII. Bibliography 334 



XIII. Explanation of the Plates 335 



XIV. Explanation of the Lettering of the Figures 338 



I. Introduction. 



XlAVING 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. — part vii. No. 1. — April, 1901. 2 z 



