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Show 582 DR. J. SYMINGTON ON THE [Nov. 17, The relation of the bone to the organ of Jacobson corresponds essentially to that of the palatine process of the premaxilla in various mammals. Turbinated Processes. The only author who appears to make any reference to these processes is Prof. Zuckerkandl (5). In fig. 1 of plate i. of his work he gives a drawing of the external wall of the left nasal cavity as exposed by a sagittal section immediately to the left of the septum nasi. For the sake of comparison, I divided the posterior part of the nose in m y specimen in a similar manner. The right part, consisting of the right nasal cavity and septum nasi, was divided in a transverse vertical direction and the sections mounted for microscopic examination, while the outer wall of the left nasal cavity was preserved for naked-eye examination. The result of m y investigations differs considerably from those of Professor Zuckerkandl; and I think it extremely probable from the drawing he gives that his specimen had been partially macerated or at least imperfectly preserved. Zuckerkandl divides the turbinated processes into a " Nasenmuschel" (maxillo-turbinal) and three " Reichwiilste" (ethmo-turbinals). The former he describes as belonging to the group of " gefalteten Nasenmuscheln " (p. 10). These are turbinals which show on their free surface some longitudinal grooves. I a m satisfied that the maxillo-turbinal constitutes a well-marked example of the branching variety (verastigte Muschel) such as is found in the common Seal. Transverse sections show that the turbinal springs from the outer wall and that its branches almost entirely fill the corresponding part of tbe nasal cavity, reaching close to the nasal septum. The turbinal is pretty well ossified, but the smaller branches are often tipped with cartilage. Unfortunately in m y specimen the spirit had not penetrated properly into this part of the nose, so that the character of the mucous membrane covering them could not be properly determined. In a well-macerated skull kindly lent m e by A. Wilson, Esq., L.D.S. (Edin.), the branches of this turbinal can be easily recognized. The maxillo-turbinal extends backwards so as to lie partly below the ethmo-turbinals, but it is separated from the latter by a well-marked groove. The ethmo-turbinals (Reichwidste) are described by Zuckerkandl as three in number. The majority of Osmatic mammals have five, and I think this number can be distinguished in the Ornithorhynchus (see fig. 2, Plate XLIV.). The olfactory bulbs and ethmo-turbinals are present, but only moderately well-developed in this animal; it therefore belongs to the group named by Sir W . Turner (4 a) Microsmatic. The soft palate was about 1 cm. iu length, and the epiglottis projected upwards behind it. In another adult specimen in my possession I found a similar intra-narial position of the epiglottis. |
