THE LATEKAL NASAL GLANDS OF AMPHIUMA. 



BY 



INEZ WHIPPLE WILDER. 



In describing the nasal region of Amphiuma tridactylum, H. H. 

 Wilder '91b, mentions ''eine laterale Driisenmasse die ausserhalb des 

 Cavum nasale liegt." This gland, he says, ''bildet eine compacte 

 ovale Masse und liegt subcutan in einer Vertiefung zwischen den 

 Rtindern des ISTasale, Pramaxillare und Maxillare." He further 

 adds, "so weit ich constatiren konnte, miindet die Driise nach vorn 

 durch zwei Ausfiihrungsgange in den Vorhof der Nasenhohle ein." 

 At Dr. Wilder's suggestion I began, several y.ears ago, a study of the 

 structure and development of this gland and a comparison of the gland 

 with similarly located ones of other urodeles. This suggestion, how- 

 ever, led me incidentally to the study of certain peculiarities of 

 structure in the nasal region of lungless salamanders (Plethodontidie 

 and Desmognathidse), the results of which I have already published 

 (Whipple '06) ; the results of the original line of research have, 

 therefore, been deferred for treatment in this paper. 



I. Description of the Structuees in the Adult. 



In the adult Amphiuma the lateral nasal gland is readily exposed 

 by the removal of the skin and subcutaneous tissue from the dorsal 

 surface of the head (Plate I, Fig. A). Superficially it has the 

 appearance of a compound alveolar gland extending from near the 

 tip of the snout about half-way back to the eye. It lies, as the above 

 quotation indicates, wholly outside of the nasal capsule, lateral and 

 slightly dorsal to it. It is bounded mesially by the nasal bone and 

 latero-ventrally by the premaxillary and maxillary. The posterior- 

 portion of the gland, however, becomes partially enclosed between 

 the maxillary bone and the cartilaginous nasal capsule. 

 The Journal of Morphology — Vol. XX, No. 1. 



