38 AMPHIBIA. 



the trachea. In the turtle, the par vagum arises from the restiform body, and sends a 

 filament to communicate with the auditory nerve in the sack of the labyrinth ; it sends 

 off the laryngeal nerve to the larynx, and small branches to the pharynx and 

 oesophagus : at the bottom of the neck it leaves the sympathetic nerve, with which it 

 passes in close coalition after its exit from the cranium ; it then gives off the recurrent 

 branches to wind round each aorta to-the oesophagus and trachea ; it sends a branch 

 on each side to the ventricles of the heart, and others along the large vessels to the 

 auricles, and many branches to each lung and the stomach. In the snake, it com- 

 municates with the sympathetic, and then with a branch that appears to be the 

 continuation of the glosso-pharyngeal from the ganglion of the sympathetic ; it sends 

 a branch to communicate with the ninth to pass to the muscles of the fauces, and is 

 then continued downwards close to the trachea in company with each jugular vein ; on 

 the left side it also accompanies the carotid artery, and from this a small vessel 

 ascends with the right trunk ; it sends filaments on the large vessels towards the 

 heart, and others behind each aorta, similar to the recurrent nerves, to be distributed 

 on the trachea and oesophagus ; each trunk for a short space accompanies its 

 corresponding pulmonary artery ; a little above the liver it passes in front of the 

 superior part of the lungs, and proceeds a short distance, where it is joined by its 

 fellow to form a single nerve ; this is continued downwards under a thick membrane 

 on the liver, and appears to give filaments to this viscus, the lungs, and oesophagus ; 

 about the termination of the liver it sends a large branch, which has communicated 

 freely with branches of the sympathetic, to the left surface of the stomach ; this gives 

 filaments to the lowest part of the lungs, and terminates in the stomach. The right 

 division, or the continuation of the nerve itself, having communicated several times 

 with the left division and filaments from the plexus of the sympathetic, is continued a 

 short way on the membrane connecting the viscera ; it passes on the right surface 

 of the stomach, distributing branches to this viscus, and terminates in the beginning 

 of the intestines, reaching as far as the pancreas. In the turtle, the accessory nerve 

 arises from the posterior part of the spinal cord, without joining any of the posterior 

 bundles of cervical nerves ; it passes out with the par vagum, and, after the junction 



