The Vomero-nasal Apparatus in Chrysemys Punctata and Rana Catesbiana

In a previous communication the writer ('12) described the vomero-nasal apparatus in the opossum and other mammals. It was shown that the vomero-nasal organ, the vomero-nasal nerves and the accessory olfactory bulb are parts of a special olfactory mechanism the specific function of which still remains doubtful. It is with the idea that a careful comparative study of this apparatus in the different animals may lead to a more definite understanding of its function that this study was undertaken. The observations about to be reported were based in part on serial sections of the heads of turtles and frogs and in phrt on dissections of prepared specimens of the same species. Wax plate reconstructions of the olfactory apparatus were made to show, so far as possible, the form and comparative size of its component parts. Figures 7 , 8, 15 and 16 represent drawings of these reconstructions.