Abstract
The shell gland of Scyliorhinus caniculus has been investigated histochemically and chromatographically. On the basis of histochemical reactions the gland is divided into five distinct regions, Zones A to E. These zones secrete respectively a carbohydrate, a carbohydrate substance which is metachromatic, a polyphenol oxidase, a protein, a phenol, and perhaps a phenolic protein and a basic protein. With reference to the histochemical findings and incubation experiments various modes of sclerotin formation are discussed. On the basis of histochemical evidence it is concluded that sclerotin formation could be as deduced by Brunet and Kent (1956) from their work on the oötheca of Blatta and Periplaneta but this is not supported by the incubation experiments. The weight of evidence presented here therefore favours an auto quinone tanning system in the formation of the egg case of Scyliorhinus caniculus.
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