560 



THE AMKRICAX X.\ TCRA LIST [Vol. XL. 



same will ])r()i)al)lv he foiiud tni(> of N. noclunnix for the dorsal 

 .pine nland i. heie ^^ell .lex<'l<.pe<l n> the i,ectoral. The 

 presence of spine ojan.U nun he detennined h^ ( arefull^ slit- 

 tino- tlie overl_vin.ir skin and serapiny- tlie s})ine with a needle. 

 It' the j,dand is present, the serapinos when stained and 

 mounted show the tyjiieal (^laiid strncture almost as clearly as 

 sections. Sometimes the strncture can he made out with a 

 dissecting? lens without either staininu" or scraping the tissue from 

 the spine. In the fresh condition the olands are of a translucent 

 jelly-like consistency and ap})earance. 'J'here is no difference in 

 structure between the axillary and s|)ine glands. 



It appears from the figures and descriptions of Schmidt and 

 Parker that the poison organs of the mad toms and the ^^ee^er 

 fishes are identical in structure. In the latter group the glands 

 arc found only in connection with the opercular and dorsal spines 

 which they surround in precisely the same maimer as do the i)e( toral 

 and dorsal glands of Schilheodes gyrinm and ^S. noclunni.^. 



Differential stains fail to reveal^ the presence of aiiv imiscular 



cells and force their secretions to the exterior. 'i1ic same is true 

 accoiNliiiir to Schmi.lt and Parker of the weevcr fishes. Tlie 

 latter ( 'SSi wrings. "No special muscles are present in connection 

 with the ghindv 1 am iin liiu>d to think that in the discharge of 



that "Along the ventral side of the upper gland are found a few 

 hmidles of the extensor muscle of the gill cover but they could 

 hardly })ro(luce any ])ressure on the gland, and moreover, no 

 organ, adaj)ted for active ejection of the secretion, is found." 



released, for in no case lia^ a natural opening been found in the 

 cells, and the secretion, when >tained are found to contain rup- 

 tured and rao-..-ed (elU in main .4' ^^lu<h the nucleu. can still be 

 ma<le out. FrcpientK -min|.n<>d cell, aiv found lloatina in the 

 secretions alon-- with the ruptniv.l ones, rsnallv these are small 

 cells, prohahirimii.atiiie one. uhi.h lune !>.<>„ n.i.i n^^a^ uith 

 the others. 



The relation of the fin and body nnisclc to tlu- -l.ind i. >uch 



