CRANIAL NERVES OF CAECILIANS 553 



44, gsy.2). From the posterior end of this second ganglion the 

 sympathetic is continued as a small nerve which ends by anas- 

 tomosing with the ventral ramus of the fourth spinal nerve. As 

 the fibers of the first branchial nerve, or the common trunk of 

 the first and second branchial nerves, leave the IX-X trunks 

 they run along the dorsal border of the first sympathetic ganglion 

 and may be imbedded in its substance. It is impossible to de- 

 termine whether fibers in this way pass from the trunk of the vagus 

 into the sympathetic or vice versa. As previously described, a 

 cutaneous division of the ventral ramus of the second spinal 

 nerve passes through the second sympathetic ganglion. Shortly 

 before this cutaneous ramus reaches the ganglion, a non-mye- 

 linated bundle becomes distinguishable in the nerve, evidently 

 the equivalent of a ramus conmiunicans. With the cutaneous 

 branch a small number of motor fibers enter the second sympa- 

 thetic ganglion, to emerge separately from the ganglion as already 

 described. With the extreme posterior end of the second sym- 

 pathetic ganglion the cutaneous branch of the ventral ramus of 

 the third spinal nerve comes into contact. There is possible an 

 actual anastomosis with fibrous exchange. No non-myelinated 

 constituent of the third nerve was found which could be inter- 

 preted as a ramus communicans. Beyond the second sympa- 

 thetic ganglion the sympathetic chain is traceable only as a mi- 

 nute strand which terminates posteriorly in the fourth spinal 

 nerve, as stated above." 



In Herpele no anastomoses between the IX-X complex and 

 the sympathetic occur unless the first and second branchial 

 nerves, as described above, serve as a course along which such 

 fibers pass. In Dermophis there is a large anastomosing branch 

 between the glossopharyngeus (and possibly the vagus) and the 

 sympathetic trunk (fig, 36, anast.IX + sy.). A similar branch is 

 figured by Wiedersheun in Ichthyophis, by Fischer and by Wald- 

 schmidt in Siphonops. In the larva of Ichthyophis there is no 

 very evident anastomosis between the sympathetic and the IX- 

 X nerves, although there is contact in many places. In the 

 adult of Ichthyophis, however, the writers confirm the statement 

 of Wiedersheim, According to the figures of the latter author, 



THE JOURNAL OF MORPHOLOGY, VOL. 31, NO. 3 



