Above the primitive groove is seen the medullary groove _m.c._, with the medullary folds _A._ These, diverging behind, slope away on either side of the primitive groove, while in front they curve round and meet each other close upon a curved line which represents the head-fold. The second curved line in front of and concentric with the first is the commencing fold of the amnion.] The mesoblast and hypoblast, within the area pellucida, do not give rise to the whole of these two layers in the surrounding area opaca; but the whole of the hypoblast of the area opaca, and a large portion of the mesoblast, and possibly even some of the epiblast, take their origin from the peculiar material already spoken of, which forms the germinal wall, and is continuous with the hypoblast at the edge of the area opaca (_vide_ figs. 91, 94, 97, 98, 99, 100). The exact nature of this material has been the subject of many controversies. Into these controversies it is not my purpose to enter, but subjoined are the results of my own examination. The germinal wall first consists, as already mentioned, of the lower cells of the thickened edge of the blastoderm, and of the subjacent yolk material with nuclei. During the period before the formation of the primitive streak the epiblast extends itself over the yolk, partly, it appears, at the expense of the cells of the germinal wall, and possibly even of cells formed around the nuclei in this part. This mode of growth of the epiblast is very similar to that in the epibolic gastrulas of many Invertebrata, of the Lamprey, etc.; but how far this process is continued in the subsequent extension of the epiblast I am unable to say. The cells of the germinal wall, which are at first well separated from the yolk below, become gradually absorbed in the growth of the hypoblast, and the remaining cells and yolk then become mingled together, and constitute a compound structure, continuous at its inner border with the hypoblast. This structure is the germinal wall usually so described. It is mainly formed of yolk granules with numerous nuclei, and a somewhat variable number of largish cells imbedded amongst them. The nuclei typically form a special layer immediately below the epiblast, some of which are probably enclosed by a definite cell-body. A special mass of nuclei (_vide_ figs. 98 and 100, _n_) is usually present at the junction of the hypoblast with the germinal wall. The germinal wall at this stage corresponds in many respects with the granular material, forming a ring below the edge of the blastoderm in Teleostei.