The eye of Astacus takes its origin from two distinct parts, (1) the external epidermis of the procephalic lobes which will be spoken of as the epidermic layer of the eye, (2) a portion of the supraœsophageal ganglia, which will be spoken of as the neural layer of the eye. The mesoblast is moreover the source of some of the pigment between the two above layers. The epidermic layer gives rise to the corneal lenses, the crystalline cones, and the pigment around the latter. The neural layer on the other hand seems to give rise to the retinulæ with their rhabdoms, and to the optic ganglion.
After the separation of the supraœsophageal ganglia from the superficial epiblast, the cells of the epidermis in the region of the future eye become columnar, and so form the above-mentioned epidermic layer of the eye. This layer soon becomes two or three cells deep. At the same time the most superficial part of the adjoining supraœsophageal ganglion becomes partially constricted off from the remainder as the neural layer of the eye, but is separated by a small space from the thickened patch of epidermis. Into this space some mesoblast cells penetrate at a slightly later period. Both the epidermic and neural layers next become divided into two strata. The outer stratum of the epidermic layer gives rise to the crystalline cones and Semper’s nuclei; each crystalline cone being formed from four coalesced rods, developed as cuticular differentiations of four cells, the nuclei of which may be seen in the embryo on its outer side. The lower ends of the cones pass through the inner stratum of the epidermic disc, the cells of which become pigmented, and constitute the pigment cells surrounding the lower part of the crystalline cones in the adult. The outer end of each of the crystalline cones is surrounded by four cells, believed by Bobretzky to be identical with Semper’s nuclei[189]. These cells give rise in a later stage (not worked out in Astacus) to the cuticular corneal lenses.
Of the two strata of the neural layer the outer is several cells deep, while the inner is formed of elongated rod-like cells. Unfortunately however the fate of the two neural layers has not been worked out, though there can be but little doubt that the retinulæ originate from the outer layer.
The mesoblast which grows in between the neural and epidermic layers becomes a pigment layer, and probably also forms the perforated membrane between the crystalline cones and the retinulæ.
The above observations of Bobretzky would appear to indicate that the paired compound eyes of Crustacea belong to the type of cerebral eyes. How far this is also the case with the compound eyes of Insects is uncertain, in that it is quite possible that the latter eyes may have had an independent origin.
The relation between the paired and median eye of the Crustacea is also uncertain.
In the genus Euphausia amongst the Schizopods there is present a series of eyes placed on the sides of some of the thoracic legs and on the sides of the abdomen. The structure of these eyes, though not as yet satisfactorily made out, would appear to be very different from that of other Arthropodan visual organs.
The Eye of the Vertebrata. In view of the various structures which unite to form it, the eye is undoubtedly the most complicated organ of the Vertebrata; and though its mode of development is fairly constant throughout the group, it will be convenient shortly to describe what may be regarded as its typical development, and then to proceed to a comparative view of the origin of its various parts, and to enter into greater detail with reference to some of them. At the end of the section there is an account of the accessory structures connected with the eye.
The formation of the eye commences with the appearance of a pair of hollow outgrowths from the anterior cerebral vesicle or thalamencephalon, which arise in many instances, even before the closure of the medullary canal. These outgrowths, known as the optic vesicles, at first open freely into the cavity of the anterior cerebral vesicle. From this they soon however become partially constricted, and form vesicles ([fig. 284], a), united to the base of the brain by comparatively narrow hollow stalks, the rudiments of the optic nerves. The constriction to which the stalk or optic nerve is due takes place obliquely downwards and backwards, so that the optic nerves open into the base of the front part of the thalamencephalon ([fig. 284], b).