CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGICAL ANATOMY. 279 
the application of two distinct names — the ‘'membrane folliculaire 
ou muqueuse linguale,” and the “ tissu folliculaire lingual.” 
The first of these, says he, “ s’observe dans les deux tiers 
anterieurs de la membrane linguale, est grise, tres-dense, forte 
resistante, cartilaginiforme, et comme si elle etait tapissee par une 
lame cartilagineuse.” 
The second, the " tissu lingual folliculaire, est place sous la 
muqueuse, tres-mince de la partie superieure de la base de la 
langue. II occupe le tiers posterieure de la surface superieure de 
celle-ci, environ tout Tespace qui est au-dela des papilles lenticu- 
laires et coniques j usque a l’epiglotte, et ou s’ouvrent les follicules 
si sensibles. II adhere aussi tres-fortement a la folliculeuse qui le 
recouvre immediatement*.” This difference, however, appears to 
be more apparent than real — the thickness and density depending 
rather on the comparative absence of the papillae on the posterior 
or superior surface. 
In ultimate structure, the covering along the sides of the body 
and on the inferior surface of the tip is of a true mucous nature. 
Along the dorsum, the depressions or intervals between the pa- 
pillae, though possessing somewhat the appearance of true mucous 
membrane, still exhibits more of that of epidermis or cuticle, the 
epithelial pavement is worn away by the constant movements 
and friction, and this especially in the anterior two-thirds ; while, 
in the posterior part, it is sometimes found existing, and giving 
the free surface, among the few papillae here, the appearance of 
mucous membrane. 
The basement membrane, beneath this cuticular layer, exhibits 
much of the appearances of true skin or corium, with here and 
there the elements of fibro-cartilage. On the anterior two -thirds, 
where the papillae abound, this tissue is most dense and strong, 
and there is also here a greater abundance of cartilage corpuscles. 
The sensibility here is much less than in the posterior third, 
which latter part is well known to be, next to the margins and in- 
ferior surfaces of the organ in this class of animals, the situation 
where the sense of taste is most acute over its surface. 
Structure of the Papillce. 
Projecting from the upper surface of this dermo-mucous invest- 
ing membrane are a great number of papillae, which vary much 
in size, form, and general arrangement. They are largest and 
most prominent in the middle and anterior thirds, particularly along 
* Gerdy, Anat. et Physiol, de Langue ; Archives Generales de Medicine, 
tom. vii, page 363 ; also Blandin, Archiv. Gen. de Medicine, 1823, and his 
These Inagur. sur la Structure de la Langue de Bceuf. 
