MR. NEWPORT ON THE NERVOUS SYSTEM OF THE SPHINX LIGUSTRI. 401 



with involuntary motion, there is reason to believe that it is a compound structure, 

 and partakes both of the motor and sensitive principle, but of an involuntary nature, 

 and not therefore belong-ing- to the symmetrical system. 



h. Anterior lateral Ganglia. — The size of these ganglia, relatively to that of the 

 cerebral ganglia, is very considerable [Plate XIII. fig. 3. (a)~\ ; and hence, doubtless, 

 Straus-Durckheim was induced to call them "accessories of the brain." In the 

 larva and pupa of the Sphinx, they are situated behind the brain, one on each side 

 of the upper part of the oesophagus, anterior to a pair of large constrictor muscles 

 [Plate XIV. fig. 14. {h)~\, which are attached to the lateral posterior part of the head. 

 Their connexions are remarkable : they occupy an intermediate situation between all 

 the different nerves in this part of the body. A large nerve on each side the head 

 connects the ganglia with the brain, and a small branch which passes transversely 

 connects this nerve with the pneumogastric. Another nerve passes direct from the 

 ganglion, and connects it with the transverse or superadded series. Other small fila- 

 ments pass outwards laterally from the ganglion to the surrounding structures ; and, 

 lastly, there is a nerve which runs forward from the ganglion beneath the optic lobes, 

 and forms connexions with the nerves to the antennae and proboscis. Here, then, we 

 have a series of connexions which seem to indicate the real nature of the ganglia, and 

 their analogy with the superior cervical ganglia of the sympathetic system in verte- 

 brated animals. Indeed, it is in these highly organized Invertehrata that we might 

 expect to find a distinct sympathetic system, seeing that as we ascend in the scale of 

 creation, from the Polypifera, or half- vegetative beings, to the most perfect animals, 

 in proportion to the number, variety and importance of the functions to be performed, 

 the number, extent, and complexity of structures are increased, and are more dependent 

 upon each other, and every part of the body is less and less capable of maintaining for 

 itself a separate existence. 



c. The Transverse, Superadded, or Respiratory Nerves. — These nerves have for a 

 long time engaged the attention of naturalists, and have been delineated by Lyonet, 

 Heroldt, and others ; but their true function has never been established *. There is a 

 point of interest attaching itself to these nerves greater than to any others in the whole 

 system of the insect. Hitherto there has been no distinct analogy shown between the 

 nervous system of the vertebrated and that of the invertebrated classes in the possession 

 of two series of nerves, the one for motion and the other for sensation ; and it has 

 been imagined by some that these transverse nerves may perhaps be analogous to the 

 motor, while the longitudinal cords and ganglia are analogous to the gangliated sen- 

 sitive system. Others believe the transverse nerves of insects are analogous to the 

 true visceral or sympathetic. Perhaps I may be excused, therefore, for entering some- 

 what at length upon their distribution and structure. 



* I have called these nerves transverse, from the direction of their principal branches ; superadded, from their 

 being nerves given to muscles, in addition to nerves from the moto-sensitive or spinal cords ; and respiratory, 

 from their distribution being chiefly to muscles which appear to be most concerned in respiration. 



