236 Journal of Comparative Neurology. 



few small fibers from the nerv^e seem to terminate in this liga- 

 ment, and others are given off in the same vicinity which seem 

 to terminate upon blood vessels. As the nerve approaches the 

 rami of the hyomandibular trunk it divides; one division enters 

 the r. jugularis, while the other passes across the surface of this 

 nerve and enters the r. alveolaris. 



As to the composition of the respective divisions of the r. 

 communicans IX+X ad VII there can be little doubt. The 

 ramus certainly contains general cutaneous and communis fibers, 

 and it affords the only possible source of the general cutaneous 

 fibers already demonstrated in the r. jugularis VII. The 

 branch to this nerve, then, must be general cutaneous in func- 

 tion. Furthermore, the fibers which enter the r. alveolaris 

 have the appearance of communis fibers. In one case I have 

 distinguished the two components from the ganglion nearly to 

 the point of branching, but here the nerve twists in such a 

 manner as to obscure the relations further. However, from 

 this observation alone, it would seem probable that the whole 

 communis component enters the r. alveolaris, for this distinct- 

 ness of the components through nearly the entire extent of the 

 nerve indicates that there would not be a mixing of the compo- 

 nents in the division of the nerve. 



In a specimen two inches long the branch of the r. com- 

 municans to the r. alveolaris consists of only a few fibers, but 

 in older larvae and in the adult it is a nerve of considerable 

 size. It is not demonstrable in all series of sections cut in the 

 transverse plane, since its relation with the r. jugularis is such 

 as to obscure its course. In series cut parallel with the sagittal 

 plane the relation is perfectly clear. 



There is frequently a recurrent motor twig from the r. 

 jugularis which passes caudad some distance closely compressed 

 upon the r. communicans and then enters the m. depressor 

 mandibular This would give to the r. communicans, by super- 

 ficial examination, the appearance of sending fibers into the 

 muscle, but there is no anatomical evidence of the presence of 

 motor fibers in this nerve. 



The second ramus {IX, 2) of the glossopharyngeus, com- 



