No. 2.] LINE SYSTEM OF BATRACHUS TAU. 233 



By reference to the diagrams (Figs. 22 and 23) which represent 

 the side and dorsal view of the head and anterior part of the 

 body of an adult toadfish, the course of the nerves may be 

 traced after their exit from the skull. Fig. 21 is reproduced 

 from Allis's plate for purposes of comparison, as it is of interest 

 to note the general resemblances and slight differences which 

 appear in comparing the teleost Batrachus with the ganoid 

 Amia. As may be observed, the number of organs in the 

 different lines and their mode of innervation correspond in a 

 surprising manner. 



The lateral line system in the head of Batrachus is innervated 

 by dorsal branches of the VII and X cranial nerves. 



The VII Nerve. 



The supraorbital line is innervated by the R. ophthalmicus 

 superfacialis facialis (Fig. 22). This branch arises from the 

 ganglion lying above the Gasserian ganglion (Fig. 13), and 

 runs along the inner margin of the orbit in close association 

 with the ophthalmic branch of the trigeminus. There is 

 an evident interchange of fibres in one place, and the two 

 nerves are included in the same sheath for a short distance 

 near their peripheral termination. Each organ is supplied by 

 a short branch, which enters the bony canal immediately below 

 the organ. Organ No. 7 being a free organ, and on the top of 

 the head, yet belongs to this supraorbital line of organs, as 

 may be seen by tracing its development and its innervation. 

 As Allis has shown in Amia, the supraorbital line is widely 

 separated, at an early period of development, from the infra- 

 orbital, at the point where later there is a union of the two 

 canals. 



Infraorbital line. — The organs in the pre-auditory part of 

 the infraorbital line are innervated by the R. buccalis facialis 

 (Figs. 22 and 23, buc.f.). This branch arises from the facial 

 (Fig. 13), lying above the Gasserian ganglion, and immediately 

 divides, sending a comparatively small number of fibres (Fig. 

 13, buc.f?), to the outer angle of the orbit to supply the eight 

 organs of the suborbital portion of the infraorbital. The 



