Nasal Passacics of the Cacluilot. Go.'j 



of a metamorphosis oi' tlic riji,lit nor, for tlic matter of tliat, 

 the left nasal })assa<^e, which suggests a commencing modifi- 

 cation in the direction of the formation of the spermaceti 

 organ. Nor, on the other hand, is there any diverticulum 

 ■which mioht suggest the same. Evidently, therefore, if 

 the connection alleged by Pouchet and lieaurcgard actually 

 exists, it must be in a later foetus. I am disposed, therefoie, 

 to think that the positive statements as to the absence of 

 any such relation between the nasal passage and the 

 spermaceti organ made by Kernan and Shulte are at tlie 

 moment more likely. Nor does it to my mind seem the 

 kind of connection that might be expected. An early out- 

 growth might be a different matter; but that, as 1 believe, 

 is not to be found. 



§ Oropharynx and Tonsils. 



The tonsils have not been, as far as I am aware, described 

 in the adult Sperm-Wliale ; they occur, however, in the 

 foetus under consideration. They have also been studied 

 in the Pygmy Sperm-Whale, EuphyseteSy by Kernan and 

 Shulte *. They are represented in the latter by " two 

 crypts . . . dorsally placed. ^^ And each crypt consists of 

 a slit-like orifice leading into a little pocket. There are, 

 say these authors, " no conspicuous lymph follicles." In 

 the embryo Sperm-Whale examined by myself the tonsils 

 do not occupy a large space ; they are to be seen for a space 

 of about 1*2 mm._, perhaps a very little more, for it is 

 difficult to fix accurately the end of the outgrowths which 

 iorm the canal of the tonsil, so gradually does it fade away 

 on each side. In the series of sections examined by me, the 

 tonsil of the left side first came into view^ ; and, moreover, 

 it persisted after the appearance and disappearance of the 

 right tonsil. I may here point out that the first appearance 

 ot the Eustachian tubes is also on the left side. There 

 would, therefore, appear to be a precise agreement in the 

 nature of the asymmetry (,f these organs in the w^halc's head. 

 But it IS im])ortant to bear in mind that it is not easy to 

 orient exactly so large an object as the head of this foetus 

 in the imbedding material, so that the sections shall be 

 precisely at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the 

 head. There is clearly scope for error. But, in any case — 

 even if the apparent agreement of the asymmetry of the 

 two oigans is so far accidental, — there is no doubt w liatever 



* Loc. tit. 



