About 1865 it was found that the coverings of the tongue of mammals and later the lining of the mouth cavity contained peculiar little bodies, which, on account of their apparent shape and their connection with the sense of taste, were called taste beakers. Small fissures called taste pores were discovered among the most superficial epithelial cells of the mucous membrane of the tongue, and these were thought to lead into the small, flask-like chambers. Further study showed that the beakers were not in reality hollow, but consisted of closely packed groups of modified epithelial cells. They were then given the name of taste buds, on account of their resemblance to a bud with its tightly folded petals. These have been spoken of frequently in the preceding pages as sensory ends, and the regions in which they are found were enumerated. Each taste bud is set rather deeply in the epithelial layer of the mucous membrane covering the sides of the papillæ and communicates with the surface only by the above-mentioned taste pore. Thus the taste bud is projected from direct stimulation by all substances except those which can gain access through the narrow opening. Occasionally taste buds are found which lack this gustatory pore and communicate directly with the tongue surface. Such cases, however, are to be considered as exceptions. Likewise, twin taste buds are sometimes found, having a common base, but with peripheral ends distinct. These, too, are merely exceptions to the ordinary form and do not represent a type. The taste buds are globular in shape, measuring about 70 to 80 thousandths of a millimeter in length and about 50 thousandths of a millimeter in diameter. The taste pore averages only about 4 thousandths of a millimeter in diameter. _Supporting Cells, Gustatory Cells, and Nerve Filaments_