A), and forms a structure which may be spoken of as the medullary plate; and that in the closure of the neural canal the lateral epiblast forms a complete layer above this plate before the plate itself is folded over into a closed canal. This peculiarity will be easily understood from an examination of fig. 3 A, B and C. [FIG. 3. SECTIONS OF AN AMPHIOXUS EMBRYO AT THREE STAGES. (After Kowalevsky.) A. Section at gastrula stage. B. Section of an embryo slightly younger than that represented in fig. 2 D. C. Section through the anterior part of an embryo at the stage represented in fig. 2 E. _np._ neural plate; _nc._ neural canal; _mes._ archenteron in A and B, and mesenteron in C; _ch._ notochord; _so._ mesoblastic somite.] The formation of the mesoblastic somites commences, at about the same time as that of the neural canal, as a pair of hollow outgrowths of the walls of the archenteron. These outgrowths, which are shewn in surface view in fig. 2 B and D, _so_, and in section in fig. 3 B and C, _so_, arise near the front end of the body and gradually extend backwards as wing-like diverticula of the archenteric cavity. As they grow backwards their dorsal part becomes divided by transverse constrictions into cubical bodies (fig. 2 D and E), which, with the exception of the foremost, soon cease to open into what may now be called the mesenteron, and form the mesoblastic somites. Each mesoblastic somite, after its separation from the mesenteron, is constituted of two layers, an inner one--the splanchnic--and an outer--the somatic, and a cavity between the two which was originally continuous with the cavity of the mesenteron. Eventually the dorsal parts of the outgrowths become separated from the ventral, and form the muscle-plates, while their cavities atrophy. The cavity of the ventral part, which is not divided into separate sections by the above described constrictions, remains as the true body cavity. The ventral part of the inner layer of the mesoblastic outgrowths gives rise to the muscular and connective tissue layers of the alimentary tract, and the dorsal part to a section of the voluntary muscular system. The ventral part of the outer layer gives rise to the somatic mesoblast, and the dorsal to a section of the voluntary muscular system. The anterior mesoblastic somite long retains its communication with the mesenteron, and was described by Max Schultze, and also at first by Kowalevsky, as a glandular organ. While the mesoblastic somites are becoming formed the dorsal wall of the mesenteron develops a median longitudinal fold (fig. 3 B, _ch_), which is gradually separated off from before backwards as a rod (fig. 3 C, _ch_), underlying the central nervous system. This rod is the notochord. After the separation of those parts the remainder of the hypoblast forms the wall of the mesenteron.