80 



DE. C. F. SONNTAG ON THE VAGUS AND 



numerous fine filaments to the aortic plexus, the latter being 

 connected to the cardiac plexus. 



In Mephitis mephitica (text-fig. 11 A) a marked plexus grouped 

 round the great vessels (A.V.P.) receives branches from the left 

 vagus a,nd left inferior cervical ganglion. The cardiac plexus 

 receives a twig from each vagus (/./'), one from the left recurrent 

 laryngeal nerve (e), and a brushwork of filaments from a i-ight 

 vago-sympathetic loop. 



In Melursus ursinus (text-fig. 1 1 B) superficial and deep cardiac 

 plexuses are present and communicate with pulmonary plexuses. 

 The superficial plexus gets a branch from the left vagus (/), but 

 both vagi and the left recurrent laryngeal nerve supply the deep 

 one. IN^either plexus gets separate sympathetic filaments. 



Text-figure 14. 



A.'^\Paradoxurus larvattis, showing the thoracic sj'mpathetic cord (T.C.S.) 

 becoming the splanchnic nerve (S.N.) ; B. Canis thous, showing the thoracic 

 cord (T.C.S.) becoming the great splanchnic nerve, the small splanchnic 

 filaments ending in the left suprarenal plexus (L.S.R.P.) and a sympathetic 

 ganglion giving rami communicantes to spinal nerves (D. 14 and L. 1) ; 

 C. Solar plexus in Ife^es wieZes: I.M.P: inferior mesenteric plexus. Other 

 letters as in text-fig. 12. 



The Thoracic Oangliated Cord does not always possess the same 

 number of ganglia as intercostal nerves. When ganglia are 

 absent the rami communicantes meet the sympathetic cords in 

 T- or V-shaped junctions. Ganglia may be minute or well- 

 marked but are larger in marine than in terrestrial Carnivora. 

 The splanchnic branches vary as follows : — 



a. One thick cord arises on each side in the thorax and breaks 

 up into several filaments before entering the solar plexus : — 

 Felis hengalensis (text-fig. 12), Civettictis civeita. 



b. One large thoracic cord and some fine abdominal nerves 

 constitute the splanchnic nerves : — Felis domestica, Cynictis 



