[ 4°3 ] 
in this than in others of the fame fize, and paffes nearer 
to the fpine r«;. In the common eel it runs in the muf- 
cles of the back, about midway between the Ikin and 
fpine. In the cod it paifes immediately under the fldn. 
From its being larger in this fifli than in others of the 
fame lize, one might fulped, that it was intended for 
fupplying the organ in fome degree ; but this feems not 
to be the cafe, as I was not able to trace any nerves going 
from it to join thofe from the 7nedulla Jpinalis^ which run 
to the organ. This nerve is as lingular an appearance 
as any in this clafs of animals ; for furely it mull appear 
extraordinary, that a nerve Ihould arife from the brain 
to be loft in common parts, while there is a 7nedulla fpi^ 
7iaUs giving nerves to the fame parts. It muft ftill re- 
main one of the inexplicable circumftances of the ner- 
vous fyftem. The organ is fupplied with nerves from 
the 7nedulla Jpmalis from which they come out in pairs 
between all the vertebra of the fpine (>^). In their paf- 
fagc from the fpine they give nerves to the mufcles of 
the back, 8cc. They bend forwards and outwards 
upon the fpine, between it and the mufcles, and fend 
out fmall nerves to the external furface, which join the 
Ikin near to the lateral lines. Thefe ramify upon the 
ftdn, but are principally bent forwards between it and 
the organ, into which they fend fmall branches, as they 
pafs along. They feem to be loft in thefe two parts. 
The trunks get upon the air-bladder, or rather dip be- 
tween it and the mufcles of the back, and continuing 
PI. III. T. PI. HI. s. 
