The Journal of 



Comparative Neurology and Psychology 



Volume XVI JULY, 1906 Number 4 



THE CRANIAL NERVES OF TRITON T^NIATUS. 



BY 



G. E. COGHILL. 



{Contribution from the Laboratory of PacifcUnivei sity.) 



The studies which have led up to the results which are presented 

 in this paper were undertaken for the purpose of comparing the 

 cranial nerves of Triton with those of Amblystoma, which I have 

 already described ('02), and with a view to examining the position 

 which Druner ('01) has taken with reference to certain nerves 

 of the Urodela. Rather than make the comparison with Amblys- 

 toma point by point throughout the cranial nervous system, I have 

 introduced only those features which seem to me of morphological 

 significance. In the case of the eye-muscle nerves I have gone 

 into greater detail because Druner has not included these nerves 

 in his descriptions, which, with the possible exception of his "N. 

 cutaneus retrocurrens IX," must be accepted as accurate so far as 

 general topography is concerned. It is only with reference to the 

 components of certain of the nerves that my observations conflict 

 with his. 



The heads of Triton taeniatus upon which my observations have 

 been made were given to me by Professor Th. Boveri, during a 

 brief period in which I enjoyed the hospitality of his laboratory in 

 Wiirzburg, and I would here express my keen appreciation of the 

 courtesy which he extended to me at that time. 



The heads studied were of adults. They were treated with 

 Flemming's stronger chromic-acetic-osmic solution till decalcified. 

 They were cut mto serial sections in the three conventional planes. 

 Those of the transverse and sagittal planes were most useful. 

 Although the transverse series are better for the study of the periph- 

 eral distribution of the nerves, the sagittal series are indispensable 

 for the study of the roots and ganglia, especially of the ninth 



