In vitro studies revealed that the hatching of oncospheres of Moniezia expansa requires the mechanical breakage of the eggshell and subshell membrane and enzymic digestion of the pyriform apparatus. Removal of the outer two egg membranes elicits the activation of most oncospheres. Between pH 5.0-7.8, there is no significant difference in numbers of oncospheres activated by eggshell removal and the addition of sodium bicarbonate has no effect. Solutions of more extreme pH values (2.0 and 10.0) are harmful and render oncospheres immobile. The subshell membrane forms a barrier to the passage of water in an osmotic gradient and to several molecular and ionic substances. Between the eggshell and subshell membrane is a layer of droplets which have a strong affinity for Sudan stains and which are partially removed by lipase. The eggshell is resistant to a variety of proteolytic enzymes, amylases and lipase. The pyriform apparatus is digested by chymotrypsin and pepsin, though not by trypsin. Both eggshell and pyriform apparatus are dissolved by solutions of sodium sulphide and sodium hypochlorite, indicating that their structures are stabilized by disulphide bonds and other covalent linkages.