. The cyclopædia of anatomy and physiology. Anatomy; Physiology; Zoology. 582 CETACEA. Fig. A section of one of the lobes or renules of the kidney of a Dolphin. The Nervous System.—The nervous system, like the greater part of the other organic sys- tems, has in many species of the Cetacea been the subject only of superficial observations. Formed on the plan of that of Mammalia in general, it has followed in its deve- lopment that of the other organs, in all cases in which it was naturally de- pendent on such modifications. Thus the lumbar and sacral nerves do not give origin to those of
. The cyclopædia of anatomy and physiology. Anatomy; Physiology; Zoology. 582 CETACEA. Fig. A section of one of the lobes or renules of the kidney of a Dolphin. The Nervous System.—The nervous system, like the greater part of the other organic sys- tems, has in many species of the Cetacea been the subject only of superficial observations. Formed on the plan of that of Mammalia in general, it has followed in its deve- lopment that of the other organs, in all cases in which it was naturally de- pendent on such modifications. Thus the lumbar and sacral nerves do not give origin to those of abdominal members, whilst, on the other hand, the coccygeal nerves are found nume- rous and powerful. The olfactory nerves do not exist, unless, as some authors say, it is in the form of almost imperceptible threads. What appears certain is, that in the common Dol- phin, and in the common Porpesse there are no traces of ethmo'idal openings; and if there are holes in the ethmoid of the Whale, they are in very small number, and nothing proves that they give passage to nerves.* In the common Dolphin and Porpesse, the brain is found as richly developed as in any Mammi- ferous quadruped whatever. Fig. 271. To judge from the capaciousness of the skull, the other species of this family of Cetacea have not been less liberally gifted than the common Dolphin. The brain of the Cachalots and the Whales has not been made a subject of study, or has been so only in a very super- ficial way. To judge of it by the cranial cavity, one may conclude that in them this organ is reduced to very small dimensions. [The illustrations of the brain of the Cetacea (Jig. 271, 272, 273) are taken from the ex- cellent figures of the brain of the Dolphin (Drtphinus Delphi-:), published byTiedemann in the second volume of his Zeitaclirift fitr Physiologic, (pi. jai. p. 251.) The following description embodies the observations of the same author on the brain of the Dolphin, and of Hunter on that of the Ealten
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