378 
B. MELLAND. 
may appear as a double row of dots or as a granular or dotted 
band crossing the disc transversely. 
In a perspective view of the fibre (figs. 3, 6, and 17), not 
only the dots (nodal points of the network) at the near side of 
the fibre are seen, but at the same time those deeper down or 
at the far side. Hence the appearance of two or more rows of 
dots crossing the fibre. When by raising the focus the nearer 
edge of one of these obliquely-arranged discs is alone focussed 
it is seen to consist of a single row of dots. 
It was noticed a few moments ago, when speaking of trans- 
position of the bands, that at the upper focus (diag. 6, u) the 
coalesced bright dots form a bright band bordered at each side 
by a dark crenated line. Each dark line is not unlike a row of 
dots. Schafer 1 seems to have figured muscle at this upper 
focus, and hence describes two lines of dots traversing the 
light disc where it borders on the dim disc. 
(c) Frog. — The fibres from the gastrocnemius of the frog 
treated by the same gold method as before yield an unmistake- 
able network. The fibi'es when examined are seen to be more 
changed by the process than is the case with insect muscle. 
They become very much softened and when pressed upon by 
the coverslip expand to many times their natural diameter, 
and thus often altogether loose their shape. Owing to this 
disturbance of the fibre the network usually shows no distinct 
differentiation into horizontal or transverse, and longitudinal 
portions. Hence there is no transverse striation. 
In many places in the preparation isolated portions of fibre 
show a network with polygonal meshes as in fig. 7. This net- 
work is also seen at the ends of certain fibres which curling up 
show a transverse section. The meshes are often, when the 
fibre is much expanded by compression, large enough to be 
seen with Zeiss A. obj., at other times much smaller, approxi- 
mating in size to the meshes of the horizontal networks in 
insects’ muscle. The size of the meshes seems to depend 
entirely on the degree of compression of the fibre. When the 
1 ‘ Quain’s Anat.,’ vol. ii, 9th edition, fig. 119. 
