SUPEAEENAIi BODIES IN FISHES. 59 



in this respect than in the Pleuronectidae (q. v.). Thus, in a specimen of Gadus 

 morrhua I have found as many as five ; in G. merlangus I found only one. I have 

 occasionally found one also in Molva vulgaris. In Merluccius vulgaris I have found in 

 one case as many as five ; in this case the suprarenal of the left side was represented 

 by four small bodies instead of one larger one (PL XI. fig. 20, s.r.). 



Their position is usually one on each side, but, as in other families, the right and 

 left are rarely quite on the same level, one being usually anterior or posterior to the 

 other. They also vary as to their relation to the middle line, some being more lateral, 

 others more central. 



The suprarenals in this family are almost always visible on the ventral surface of the 

 kidney, though they may (either one or both) be lateralized, or even exceptionally 

 may be partially on the spinal surface. They are usually more or less imbedded in 

 the kidney-substance. 



The bodies appear to be situated always in the region of the posterior third of the 

 length of the kidney, though they sometimes approach very near the anterior limit of 

 this distance. 



The size varies from 1 mm. to 1 cm. in longest diameter in the fishes I have 

 examined. 



In one specimen of Gadus morrhua the arrangement was peculiar. The suprarenals 

 were five in number. The tail of the kidney projected 3 cm. under the hsemal arch. 

 Four of the bodies were under the arch on the ventral surface of the kidney ; they 

 were compressed into angular form owing to their position. There were two large 

 ones, the anterior being 1 cm. by -5 cm. (irregular oblong), the posterior being 

 rhomboidal and having about the same greatest dimensions. There were in addition 

 two quite small bodies placed between the two larger ones. The fifth one was on the 

 spinal surface of the kidney, just anterior to the hsemal arch. It is about 1 cm. by 

 "5 cm., oval, and appears divided into two parts on the surface by a median longi- 

 tudinal depression. 



The typical arrangement of the suprarenals in the Gadidse may be stated thus: — 

 The organs are rounded and about 5 mm. in diameter. There is one on each side 

 of the middle line on the ventral surface of the kidney, but one is more lateral than 

 the other. They are placed at about one quarter the length of the kidney from its 

 hinder end, and one is slightly anterior to the other. They are smooth and partly 

 imbedded in the kidney-substance, and are pale pink in colour. 

 Plehronectidjs. — I have been able to obtain and examine : — 



Pleuronectes flesus. (PI. XI. fig. 2.2.) 

 „ limanda. (PI. XI. fig. 23.) 



„ platessa. (PL XI. fig. 24.) 



Hippoglossus vulgaris. (PI. XII. fig. 25.) 



Eippoglossoides limandoides. (PI. XII. fig. 26.) 

 Solea vulgaris. (PI. XII. fig. 27.) 

 Rhombus Imvis. (PI. XII. fig. 28.) 

 Zeugopterus. 



In Pleuronectidae there is considerable variation in the number, form, size, and 



I 2 



