On the Anatomy and Phylogenetic Position of Polypterus. J^95 



a considerable veiu, passes along in a deep groove above the superior 

 edge of the ectethraoid where it anastomoses twice with the Ophthal- 

 micus superficialis. It gives off before entering the canal a short branch 

 to the skin. This branch passes through tbe obliquus superior without 

 giving fibres to it. The main portion of the nerve leaves the groove 

 and dips into the cartilaginous nasal capsule along with the Ophthal- 

 micus superficialis of the Facial from which however it is distinct. 

 The main portion passes on just beneath the roof of the nose and 

 supplies the skin above the base of the nasal tentacle and the ten- 

 tacle itself. Before dipping into the nasal capsule a considerable branch 

 is given off (fig. 9) supplying the skin over the superior external 

 portion of the snout. The median portion of the Ophthalmicus pro- 

 fundus corresponds to the naso-ciliaris or nasalis of Urodeles. 



Trigeminus group: 



[(1) ßamus ophthalmicus superficialis.] 



(2) Ramus maxillaris superior. 



(3) Ramus mandibularis. 



(4) Ramus palatinus. 



In a young specimen of Polypterus about 20 cm long which was 

 cut into sections there appeared to be commissure from the ganglion 

 of the Trigeminus to the Ophthalmicus superficialis of the Facial. The 

 material was however not well preserved and consequently the existence 

 of this commissure which would represent the superficial portion of 

 the Trigeminus could not be determined with absolute certainty. In 

 specimens which were dissected there was no trace of it nor is it re- 

 presented by VAN WiJHE and consequently one may conclude that if 

 present at all it disappears early. 



The Ramus maxillaris superior unites with the buccalis under the 

 orbit and its peripheral distribution apart from the buccalis could not 

 be determined. 



The Ramus mandibularis gives off very early a motor branch to 

 the Levator maxillae superioris and Protractor hyomandibularis. Shortly 

 after leaving the skull it gives off the common branch to the tem- 

 poral and pterygoid muscles and more peripherally a branch to the 

 upper portion of the masseter and another branch to the lower portion 

 of the masseter. It then passes on to the lower jaw. 



The palatine nerve is not a simple nerve but represents in Po- 

 lypterus the pharyngeal branches of 3 cranial nerves. The trigeminal 

 portion joins it pas-sing internally from the ganglion of the Trigeminus. 



