562 



THE .1 .1/ EUK '. 1 .V .V. 1 TURALIST [Vol. XLI, 



the axillary pore would most likely be poorly provided with poison 

 except for the presence of a gland opening at the very end. It 

 seems plausible, therefore, that the absence of serrae is correlated 

 with the presence of glands developed about the spines, as in 

 Schilheodcs f/i/n')nis and N. nocfunius and as probably will be found 

 in aS. lepfacanf/iiis ' when an uninjured individual is examined. 



The Origin of the (Hand Cells. — Cutaneous glands are generally 

 to be regarded as invaginations or proliferations of the epidermis, 

 certain cells of which become transformed into the secreting cells. 

 Wallace ('93) has shown that in the axillary glands of the toadfish 

 the clavate cells of the epidermis become the secreting cells, whereas 



Pg. c.c. p.c. sp. 



the smaller cells become tiie supporting elements. Similarly, in 

 writing of the weever fishes, Schmidt says,— "After a comparison 

 of the contents of the gland sac and the adjacent epidermis it 

 seems clear that in the gland tissue the secreting cells replace the 

 clavate cells and that the ordinary epidermal cells are gradually 

 transformed into the supporting plexus." Parker calls attention 

 to the lack of well defined ducts in the glands of the weever fish. 

 He says,— "There can be little doubt tiuit the gland is developed 

 as an epidermic involution the whole of which gives rise to secre- 



» The only specimen available was a very small one. the spines of which 

 had been denuded of all tissue whatsoever. 



