248 
J. STUART THOMSON. 
with embryonal cartilage disposed dorsally to it, ajid then tlie 
articulating sphere for the ray. 
The occurrence of numerous terminal or taste-buds (“ becher- 
formigen Organe”) in the epidermis of the groove bordering 
the fin is particularly noteworthy in connection with this 
investigation. These taste-buds, which project slightly on 
the surface of tlie epidermis, are bulb-like organs containing 
long, sensory cells. The taste-buds have a marginal layer 
of cells, which form a definite limiting membrane. The 
sensory cells consist of (1) a long, cylindrical, apical part 
terminating in a bristle which projects slig’htly on the surface 
of the epidermis, (2) an expanded part containing the nucleus, 
and (3) a basal part, which is continnons into one or more 
fibi-es. The taste-buds are also in connection with nerve-fibres. 
Bateson has described similar organs on the barbels, pelvic 
fins and palate of tlie same fish, and the taste-buds, which I 
now bring under notice, are similar in structure to those 
described by him from these other parts. 
I have also compared these taste-buds with the '' neuro- 
masts or organs of the lateral line in the rockling, and 
agree with Herrick in his contrast of gustatory buds and 
neuromasts. The “ neuromasts are, as a rule, sunk beneath 
the skin in canals, tubes or pits, while taste-buds are super- 
ficial, or may slightly project on the surface. The specific, 
sensory cells of the neuromasts oidy extend partly through 
the space limited by the sensory epithelium, and thus do not 
reach the internal, limiting membrane; on the other hand, in 
taste-buds the sensory cells extend from the external to the 
internal boundaries. The sensory cells of neui’omasts fre- 
quently end in hairs, and are therefore sometimes termed 
“ hair-cells,” while those of taste-buds may terminate in 
bristles but not in hairs. 
A further contrast, which I may now refer to, is the jnode 
of innervation. 'J'he vibratile region of the rockling is inner- 
vated partly by the ramus lateralis accessorius, and in part 
by branches of the dorso-sj)inal nerves. The ramus lateralis 
accessorius is a recurrent branch of the facial nerve, and 
