ELEDONE. 547 
join, and then this nerve runs along the ventral side of 
the oesophagus down to the gastric ganglion. These two 
nerves give off branches to the oesophagus all along 
their course, and specially important ones alongside the 
crop. 
The Gastric Ganglion is the posterior centre of 
the visceral nervous system, and lies on the ventral 
surface of the alimentary canal, just where the intestine 
and spiral caecum lead out of the stomach. It is 
triangular, about the size of a wheat grain, and is exposed 
on turning forward the liver (Pl. V, fig. 38 a, and PI. IX, 
Hee to, G. g.). 
A. From its right upper corner it gives off:—(1) A 
large nerve which runs up over the ventral surface of the 
posterior part of the oesophagus, giving off several 
branches to the wall on its way (fig. 73, a), continues its 
course along the oesophagus, and ends in the sub- 
oesophageal ganglion as previously described; (2) several 
short branching nerves to the base of the oesophagus, and 
to the ventral wall of the stomach (fig. 73, 6); (3) a large 
nerve which runs along the groove marking the division 
between oesophagus and stomach, and gives off small 
branches on its way, ending by running round the right 
side of the stomach to its dorsal border (fig. 73, c). 
B. From the left upper corner are given off :—(1) A 
large intestinal nerve which runs along to the anus 
(fig. 73, €); (2) several small nerves which end in the 
walls of the initial part of the intestine (fig. 73, /). 
C. From the third and lowest angle of the gastric 
ganglion are given off:—(1) Several branching nerves to 
the spiral caecum (fig. 73, g); (2) two large and several 
smaller nerves to the paired hepatic ducts (fig. 73, Ah). 
These run upwards into the liver. 
The large intestinal nerve, from analogy with Sepia, 
