ALIMENTARY CANAL OF QUADKUMANA. 



429 



325 



stomach, resembling that in the common Shrew. In fig. 325, the 

 cavity has been inverted, showing the ruga3 and the glandular 

 character of the gastric membrane at the pyloric end. The differ- 

 ence in the diameters of the oesophagus and duo- 

 denum are also shown. In the Noctule a small 

 part of the right end of the stomach projects be- 

 yond the pylorus. In Plecotus communis the left 

 end of the stomach becomes somewhat attenuated 

 and bent up. In the Vampires (Desmodus) the stomach inverted of 



-, . ,. . -, i -I , common Bat (Ves- 



cardiac portion is produced into a long intestmi- pe rtmo murinus). 



form reservoir, 1 in which the blood is stored up, 



that may have been sucked during a night's adventure, and 



transported for digestion in the place of repose. In the Ptero- 



pines the left end of the stomach, fig. 326, is much produced, but 



in a far less degree, than in Desmodus. It is sometimes found, in 



the partially distended state, divided into two dilatations : the 



extreme one smooth ; the other, nearer the cardia, showing ruga3 



longitudinally disposed : the oesophagus in these frugivorous Bats 



is wide and expands near its termination. To the right of this 



expansion the stomach is long and narrow, bent upon itself, and 



produced into a cajcal pouch beyond the pylorus, which is 



extremely small. The intestinal canal is usually devoid of 



caecum ; but the colon begins 



with one about a quarter of 



an inch in length, in Rhi- 



nopoma Hardwickii and 



Megaderma spasma. The 



whole intestine is barely 



thrice the length of the 



body in Vespertilio muri- 



nus : in a Pteropus it is 



nearly seven times that length. The intestinal villi in some Bats 



are close-set foliaceous processes, and form extremely beautiful 



microscopic objects when injected. In Rhinolophus the lining 



membrane presents fine transverse folds. 



The low position of the volant and terrestrial Insectivora, as of 

 Rodents and Marsupials in the Mammalian series, is shown by 

 the loose and simple mode of suspension of the intestinal canal. 



329. Alimentary canal of Quadrumana.- -The Galeopitlieci 

 indicate their lemurine affinities by their lono- and laro-e caecum. 



v CJ & 



The oesophagus opens on the cardiac side of the middle of the 



1 A good figure of this modification, first observed by Peters, will be found in 

 cxxxvi". p. 388. 



Stomach of Pteropus. xxvm. 



