566 * PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [aNNO J 7 10. 



they were empty, and when they were full, I doubt not but they were above 

 twice as large. 



This extraordinary part did not want for nerves sufficient for it, no more 

 than blood-vessels: for first it has the nervus olfactorius, by which it is endued 

 with a most acute sense of smelling. Secondly, the aforesaid second branch of 

 the fifth pair, which accompanying the blood-vessels, is with them dispersed 

 throughout the whole substance of the proboscis; by which it has so acute a 

 sensation of touching or feeling, with which this member is more signally en- 

 dued, and by which it avoids whatever is hurtful to it, as appears by that memo- 

 rable instance of Dr. Moulins, who tells us, that such was the care, in that 

 subject he treats of, which was burnt, for the proboscis, that it thrust it 2 feet 

 into hard ground, to preserve it from the fire. Thirdly, the hard portion of 

 the nervus auditorius, which though it be dispersed in the muscles of the face 

 in human subjects, yet in quadrupeds, such as oxen, it continues undivided, till 

 it comes to the angle of the lips, and here we traced it a good way, running 

 forward above the temporal muscle, a little below the ear, till it came to the 

 upper lip, whence it proceeded to the fore-mentioned tendinous interstice, 

 which runs down on each side of the proboscis, dispersing a branch to each of 

 the fasciculi of fibres already named. The head was so mangled in taking ofF, 

 that we could not well find its origin, as it proceeded from the proper hole; but 

 its situation here, analogous to that in other quadrupeds, removes the suspicion 

 of its being any other than the hard portion. It was indeed very pleasant to 

 behold it, for several physicians and surgeons of us being together, we cut off 

 a portion of it to know its structure, how that several small fibres were knit 

 together into one bundle; and how several of these again were involved by 

 common membranulae into different fasciculi, till at length all were included in 

 one common tunicle. 



Thus we see how signally this member is endued with instruments for the 

 performance of its different functions. It is the principal seat of two of the 

 senses, and partially partakes of the third ; for by it the animal smelled : by it 

 feeling is performed, as by the hands with us, whence the proboscis is not im- 

 properly called manus nasuta; and by it the fifth pair of nerves affords a partial 

 idea of the taste, to what food it takes hold of, before it conveys it to the 

 mouth; and it has a great analogy to the two other senses, viz. to the eye, by 

 its three pair of nerves, namely, one for its seeing, analogous to the other for 

 smelling, one for its pathetical motions, analogous to the acute sensation, 

 afforded to the other by the fifth pair, and one for the motion of its other 

 muscles, analogous to the hard portion of the other: and to the tongue, by its 

 different motions, and by its partial taste. 



