{ 254}It is worthy of note that, in respect to their coelomic cavities, as in the position and origin of their nerves in the central nervous system, the first pair of appendages, the cheliceræ, retain a unique position, differing from the rest of the prosomatic appendages.
In the table I have shown how the vertebrate coelomic cavities may be compared with those of Limulus. The next question to consider is the evidence obtained by morphologists and anatomists as to the number of segments supplied by the trigeminal nerve-group; this question will be considered in the next chapter.
In Chapters IV. and V. I have dealt with the opisthotic segments of the vertebrate, including therein the segments supplied by the facial nerve, and shown that they correspond to the mesosomatic segments of the palæostracan; consequently the facial (VII.), glossopharyngeal (IX.), and vagus (X.) nerves originally supplied the branchial and opercular appendages.
In this chapter the consideration of the pro-otic segments is commenced, that is, the segments supplied by the trigeminal (V.) and the eye-muscle nerves (III., IV., VI.). I have considered the VIth nerve with the rest of the eye-muscle nerves for convenience' sake, though in reality it belongs to the same segment as the facial. Of these, that part of the trigeminal which innervates the muscles of mastication corresponds to the splanchnic segments, while the eye-muscle nerves belong to the corresponding somatic segments; but the pro-otic segments of the vertebrate ought to correspond to the prosomatic segments of the invertebrate, just as the opisthotic correspond to the mesosomatic. Therefore the motor part of the trigeminal ought to supply muscles which originally moved the prosomatic appendages, while the eye-muscles ought to have belonged to the somatic part of the same segments.
The first question considered is the number of segments which ought to be found in this region. In Limulus, the Eurypteridæ, and the scorpions there are seven prosomatic segments which carry (1) the cheliceræ, (2, 3, 4, 5) the four first locomotor appendages--the endognaths, (6) the large special appendage--the ectognath--and (7) the appendages, which in Limulus are known as the chilaria, and are small and insignificant, but in Eurypterus and other forms grow forwards, fuse together, and form a single median lip to an accessory oral chamber, which lip is known as the metastoma. Of these appendages the cheliceræ and endognaths tend to dwindle away and become mere tentacles, while the large swimming ectognath and metastoma remain strong and vigorous.