122 TRANSACTIONS LIVERPOOL BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



cells to assume a spindle shape. I have now seen four 

 examples of this condition, and Dr. G. H. Drew 

 records what is apparently the same thing. In all my 

 specimens the neoplasm is to all appearance what would 

 he described as a malignant sarcoma. In all it is chiefly 

 the upper layers of the dermis, more precisely the fine 

 areolar tissue, which is involved, and which has taken 

 on the characters of malignancy. 



6. Melanotic Sarcoma in Ray (Baia clavata). 



A large Hay, sent by Mr. T. H. Bailey, exhibited a 

 growth of this nature. The fish was about two feet in 

 breadth, and was landed at Fleetwood by a steam trawler. 

 It was in very poor condition. There was a large tumour 

 on the dorsal surface of the head at about the level of 

 the eye. The growth was nearly globular in shape, 

 measuring about 70 mm. in diameter. It was raised up 

 above the general level of the skin about 40 mm. At its 

 origin in the skin of the head its diameter was about 

 55 mm. It was dense black in colour except in one small 

 area on the posterior surface. It was extremely soft, 

 damaged in one place, and almost semi-fluid below this 

 place of injury. Necrotic change had evidently taken 

 place. Where uninjured the tumour was covered by the 

 remains of the integument, and a few small spines were 

 present. There were a number of black patches on both 

 dorsal and ventral surfaces of the body. Some of these 

 were distinct metastases, presenting raised surfaces, but 

 most of them were pigment patches : they varied from 

 one to two cms. in diameter. The skin immediately 

 round the tumour was also pigmented. 



A smaller tumour was attached to the posterior 

 border of the eye, projecting over the spiracle, the 

 opening of which was about half-covered by it. It was 



