406 PROCEEDINGS OF THE CANADIAN INSTITUTE. 



protoplasmic contents below, which are of the same character as 

 those of the superficial cells of the midgut. The peripheral wall 

 rarelv shows pore canals ; when these are present they are few to the 

 cell. The beaker cells are like those of the midgut in every respect, 

 excepting that their theca are rounder and shorter. The crypts are 

 clothed with an epithelium like that of the ordinary surface. As 

 the vent is approached the height of the epithelial cells grows less 

 and less, until finally at the vent it is columnar or even flattened. 

 In the latter half of the endgut clavate cells have been sometimes 

 observed differing not from the description given of these above. 



The arteries and capillaries are arranged in the endgut just as in 

 the midgut. The course of the arteries in the submucosa is parallel 

 to the course of the folds, to every one of which there is apparently 

 a large submucous branch. 



THE LIVER. 



The liver of the cat-fish is situated at the anterior termination of 

 the belly cavity, and is closely applied both to the aponeurotic 

 wall and to the oesophagus. The peritoneal covering of the aponeu- 

 rotic wall is reflected over the hepatic veins to the liver, while a 

 fold of the mesenteric membrane, embracing the oesophagus expands 

 to cover the liver, and, passing behind it, is closely attached to the 

 surface of the gall-bladder to the pancreatic- and bile-ducts. 



The liver is in weight about from one-thirtieth to one-twentieth 

 that of the body as a whole. Its color is reddish-brown, — pathologi- 

 cal conditions, which also increase or diminish its weight, vary its 

 color, especially during the summer months. I have in several cases 

 observed an extremely yellow color, due, probably, to the resorption 

 of the bile. There is no pigment in any part of the liver beyond 

 the proper pigment of the bile and such blotchings as sometimes 

 were present were due to no discoverable reason. 



The liver is easily lacerable, and is of a jelly-like consistency. 

 This latter property is due to oily fluids which show their presence 

 in pieces hardened in alcohol by the strong ' fishy' smell. 



The lobated formation of the liver is not distinctly marked. The 

 lateral halves are quite similar, although that of the left may have 

 quite a number of lappits distributed on its posterior surface which 

 are absent from the right. The bridge connecting the two portions 

 is not as thick as the remainder of the mass of the liver. A sulcus 



