The Cranial Nerves of Varanus bivittatus. 463 
vidianus, in the sphenoid bone it emerges from the anterior margin 
of the basi-pterygoid process of the same bone, near the middle line 
of the skull, runs anterior, dorsal to the pterygoid bone, ventral to 
bulbus oculi, and enters the nasal cavity at a point close to the 
ventral border of the interorbital septum, to end in the mucous 
membrane of the palate. 
a) Ramus communicans internus rami palatini cum glossopha- 
ryngeo arises from palatinus before it enters canalis vidianus, and 
runs posterior, close under the skin of the throat and median to the 
ear, to the ganglion petrosum of glossopharyngeus. It does not 
fully unite with the ganglion, however, but leaving it again, runs 
direetly posterior as the cervical stem of nervus sympathieus. 
b) Ramus communicans rami palatini cum ganglio trigemini. 
This fine branch, which is given off from palatinus soon after it 
emerges from its canal in the sphenoid bone, and which connects 
with the ganglion of nervus trigeminus by means of the branch 
which arises from the latter and which innervates musc. depressor 
palpebrae inferioris, will be found deseribed under the capital of 
nervus trigeminus. 
ec) Ramus com. post. rami palatini cum maxillari superiori and 
Ramus com. ant. rami palatini cum maxillari superiori are also 
described under nervus trigeminus. | 
d) Rami palatini et glandulares are given off from nervus pala- 
tinus in the anterior sub-orbital region, and innervate the mucous 
membrane of the palate. The end branches extend forward nearly 
to the tip of the nose and send, on the way, fine branches through 
‚the small openings in the os vomer to the glandulae mediales pa- 
latinae. 
e) Ramus com. rami palatini cum ophthalmico oceurs at the 
point where both nerves enter the nasal region, close to the septum 
nasi, and posterior to the’ nasal gland. At this point the two 
nerves lie quite near one another, — palatinus slightly ventral to 
opthalmieus, and one, sometimes two, connecting branches can be 
discovered. 
2. Ramus hyomandibularis is the main posterior stem of nervus 
facialis and of about equal size with ramus palatinus. It runs 
directly posterior, first in a groove in the proötie bone, medial to 
the os quadratum, then emerging it passes dorsally over the eolu- 
mella auris and divides in the muscles behind the ear into the 
following branches: 
