172 
The Alligator and Its Allies 
but if each nucleus represents a cell there are 
twenty-five or thirty layers of cells. 
Fic. 43. The epithelium of the 
anterior region of the cesophagus 
of the hibernating animal, under 
high magnification. 
The nuclei are 
arranged in two dense, 
irregular groups, one 
along the base of the 
epithelium, the other 
about two thirds of the 
distance from the base 
to the free border. The 
basal nuclei are perhaps 
slightly larger and more 
rounded than those of 
the distal group. Be-' 
tween these two groups 
are numerous more scat- 
tered nuclei; while 
scattered through the 
epithelium, except near 
the free border, are 
smaller, round nuclei 
that stain somewhat 
darker than the rest; 
these, from their size and 
appearance, seem possi- 
bly to belong to an invisible network of connective 
tissue that has penetrated the epithelium from the 
surrounding mucosa. 
The free border of the epithelium consists of long, 
ciliated, columnar cells in which the cell walls may 
be easily seen. 
The cilia are of average length and 
