_ch._ notochord; _n.c._ neural canal; _me._ mesoblast; _al._ hypoblast of tail.] The cells of the dorsal wall of the archenteron immediately adjoining the front and sides of the blastopore have in the meantime assumed a somewhat different character from the remaining cells of the archenteron, and give rise to a body which, when viewed from the dorsal surface, has somewhat the form of a horseshoe. This body was first observed by Metschnikoff. On the elongation of the embryo and the narrowing of the blastopore the cells forming this body arrange themselves as a broad linear cord, two cells wide, underlying about the posterior half of the neural canal (fig. 7, _ch_). They form the rudiment of the notochord, which, as in Amphioxus, is derived from the dorsal wall of the archenteron. They are seen in longitudinal section in fig. 8 II. and III. _ch_. With the formation of the notochord the body of the embryo becomes divided into two distinct regions--a posterior region where the notochord is present, and an anterior region into which it is not prolonged. These two regions correspond with the tail and the trunk of the embryo at a slightly later stage. The section of the archenteric cavity in the trunk dilates and constitutes the permanent mesenteron (figs. 7, _al_, and 8 III. and IV. _dd_). It soon becomes shut off from the slit-like posterior part of the archenteron. The nervous system in this part also dilates and forms what may be called the cephalic swelling (fig. 8 IV.), and the pore at its anterior extremity gradually narrows and finally disappears. In the region of the tail we have seen that the dorsal wall of the archenteron becomes converted into the notochord, which immediately underlies the posterior part of the medullary canal, and soon becomes an elongated cord formed of a single or double row of flattened cells. The lateral walls of the archenteron (fig. 7, _me_) in the tail become converted into elongated cells arranged longitudinally, which form powerful lateral muscles (fig. 8 IV. _m_). After the formation of the notochord and of the lateral muscles there remains of the archenteron in the tail only the ventral wall, which according to Kowalevsky forms a simple cord of cells (fig. 6, _al_). It is however not always present, or else has escaped the attention of other observers. It is stated by Kowalevsky to be eventually transformed into blood corpuscles. The neurenteric canal leads at first into the narrow space between the above structures, which is the remnant of the posterior part of the lumen of the archenteron. Soon both the neurenteric canal and the caudal remnant of the archenteron become obliterated. [FIG. 7. OPTICAL SECTION OF AN EMBRYO OF PHALLUSIA MAMMILLATA. (After Kowalevsky.) The embryo is of the same age as fig. 8 III, but is seen in longitudinal horizontal section. part of body; _ch._ notochord; _me._ mesoblast.]