166 JAY ARTHUR MYERS 



■ — an upper and a lower. From their observations these early- 

 investigators concluded that it was in the lower larynx that the 

 voice is produced. Regarded as a voice organ, the syrinx has 

 aroused much interest and has been the subject of numerous 

 researches. These researches deal chiefly with its function, 

 structure, and comparative anatomy. Its embryology has been 

 quite neglected, and it was this fact that prompted the present 

 investigation. At the outset it was thought best to confine this 

 study to some single species of bird, and to work out the de- 

 velopment of the voice organ, stage by stage, in this one form. 

 It was found, however, that many anatomical details of the 

 syrinx and its related structures had also been neglected. There- 

 fore, before the embryological study could be undertaken, it 

 became necessary to inquire more minutely into its anatomy. 

 Somewhat incidentally the function of the syrinx, too, has been 

 considered, and experiments performed to determine whether 

 the lower larynx is, in truth, the voice-producing organ. 



This investigation was undertaken on the suggestion of Prof. 

 H. D. Reed of Cornell University, and was carried on, under his 

 supervision in the Laboratories of Comparative Anatomy at that 

 University until September, 1913, when it was transferred to 

 the Anatomical Laboratories of the University of Missouri. 

 To Dr. Reed of the former university the author is deeply in- 

 debted for many valuable suggestions and criticisms. At the 

 latter university, the author is obligated to Dr. F. P. Johnson 

 for his keen interest in the embryological division of these 

 studies, and to Thos. J. Heldt for his aid and criticism. 



For the early literature the reader is referred to L. Wunder- 

 lich ('84), who gives an excellent historical sketch of the work 

 previous to his own. He includes a very complete resume of 

 all work dealing with the syrinx as studied in numerous species 

 of birds. 



In his text book entitled "The development of the chick" 

 Lillie '08, treats the respiratory system quite fully, but states 

 that very little is known concerning the development of the voice 

 organ in the chick. 



