The origins of the somatic motor nerve innervating the cat lingual muscles were studied using the horseradish peroxidase (HRP) method. Following HRP injection into the lingual muscles, labeled neurons were found not only in the hypoglossal nucleus but also in the facial nucleus, ipsilateral to the injection side. HRP-labeled neurons in the facial nucleus were principally observed in the ventromedial and ventrolateral divisions of the nucleus. This study suggests that cat lingual muscles are innervated by both hypoglossal motoneurons and some of the motoneurons in the ventromedial and ventrolateral divisions of the facial nucleus.