Kincssury, Columella Aurts and N. Facials. 321 
Neither one comes into relation to the columella as do the cor- 
responding processes in Desmognathus. 
Larval Spelerpes of 25 mm., 35 mm., 43 mm. (Fig. 4) 
and 60 mm. in length, were examined in this connection and 
showed that the relation between columella and squamosum in 
this form (Fig. 4) is a primary one, as in Necturus. In the 25 
mm. larva, the suspensorio-opercular connection is represented 
by a cord of cells which passes from the operculum forward 
and upward to the ventral edge of the squamosum. This cell 
cord lies ventrad to the vena jugularis around which it curves, 
closely applied to the vein, compressed between it and the R. 
jugularis facialis, the relation of nerve and suspensorio-oper- 
cular connection being thus the opposite of that in Necturus. 
Compare Figs. 2 and 4. In a 35 mm. larva cartilage has 
appeared in the cord of cells, otherwise the relations are essen- 
tially the same as in the younger larva, while in the 43 mm. 
specimen ossification of the stilus has begun, continuous with 
the perichondral ossification of the operculum. 
The facial nerve, as has been said, lies entirely cephalad 
and ventrad to the suspensorio-opercular connection. The 
only branch which comes into contact with the stilus is the 
ramus jugularis which in the larva passes close to the ventral 
border of that structure. The ramus communicans glos- 
sopharyngei likewise, passes below the stilus, curving around it 
from its dorsal side in a course forward to join the facial. In 
the adult neither nerve is in as close relation to the stilus as in 
the larva. 
The origin and significance of the small cartilage applied 
to the ventral border of the squamosum is obscure because of 
the absence of transforming and young adult material. In the 
larva it is not present. 
With the exception of the R. jugularis and R. communi- 
cans, then, the suspensorio-opercular connection in Spelerpes 
has the sime morphological relations as the ligament in 
Necturus. 
Desmognathus fusca. (76 mm.) In this form it would 
seem as if, as compared with Spelerpes, the suspensorium were 
