Of these groups of muscles, any one of which would indicate the number of
segments, Groups 1 and 2 do not extend into the prosomatic region, and
Group 5 extends only as far as the heart extends in the case of both
Limulus and the Scorpion group; so that we may safely conclude that in the
Palæostraca the evidence of somatic segmentation in the prosomatic region
would be given, as far as the musculature is concerned, by the
dorso-ventral somatic muscles (Group 3), and of segmentation due to the
appendages by the dorso-ventral appendage musculature (Group 4).
Therefore, if, as the evidence so far indicates, the vertebrate has arisen
from a palæostracan stock, we should expect to find that the musculature of
the somatic segments in the region of the trigeminal nerve did not resemble
the segmental muscles of the spinal region, was not, therefore, the
continuation of the longitudinal musculature of the body, but was
dorso-ventral in position, and that the musculature of the splanchic
segments resembled that of the vagus region, where, as pointed out in
Chapter IV., the respiratory muscles arose from the dorso-ventral muscles
of the mesosomatic appendages. This is, of course, exactly what is found
for the muscles which move the lateral eyes of the vertebrate; these
muscles, innervated by the IIIrd, IVth, and VIth nerves, afford one of the
main evidences of segmentation in this region, are always grouped in line
with the somatic muscles of spinal segments, and yet cannot be classed as
longitudinal muscles. They are dorso-ventral in direction, and yet belong
to the somatic system; they are exactly what one ought to find if they
represent Group 3--the dorso-ventral body-muscles of the prosomatic
segments of the invertebrate ancestor.
The interpretation of these muscles will be given immediately; at present I
want to pass in review all the different kinds of evidence {249}of
segmentation in this region afforded by the examination of the
invertebrate, whether living or fossil, so as to see what clues are left if
the evidence of appendages fails us. I will take in the first instance the
evidence of segmentation afforded by the presence of the musculature of
Group 4, even when, as in the case of many fossils, no appendages have yet
been found. In such animals as Mygale and Phrynus the prosomatic carapace
is seen to be marked out into a series of elevations and depressions, and
upon removing the carapace we see that these elevations correspond with and
are due to the large tergo-coxal muscles of the appendages; so that if such
carapace alone were found fossilized we could say with certainty: this
animal possessed prosomatic appendages the number of which can be guessed
with more or less certainty by these indications of segments on the
carapace.
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