466 ANATOMY OF VERTEBRATES. 



a smaller transverse aperture with the pyloric division. The 

 whole of the middle compartment is lined with laminate epi- 

 thelium continued from the oesophagus^ and this is extended a 

 short way into both the cardiac and pyloric divisions. But the 

 greater part of the cardiac cavity, with the two cul-dc-sacs, being 

 lined by a vascular and villous membrane, proves that it has a 

 greater share in the digestive processes than as a mere prepa- 

 ratory receptacle. Both muscular and gastro-mucous coats of 

 the pyloric cavity are remarkably thick ; and the pyloric valvular 

 protuberance is well defined. 



Daubenton } has left the following record of the structure of 

 the stomach in a foetal Hippopotamus. Externally it appeared 

 to be composed of three parts ; the principal portion, extending 

 from the cardiac extremity to the pylorus, was much elongated, 

 resembling more a portion of intestine than an ordinary gastric 

 receptacle. Besides this central part, extending from the oeso- 

 phagus to the pyloric valve, were two long appendages like two 

 ca^cums, one arising on the right side of the cardia and running 

 alono* the exterior of the stomach throughout almost its entire 



O < ' 



length, and then folding backward, the other and shorter cul-de- 

 sac issuing from the posterior aspect of the cardiac extremity of 

 the stomach and projecting toward the right side. The interior 

 of this stomach is so divided by septa, that food coming into this 

 viscus through the oesophagus may pass by different channels, 

 either into the central portion, which seems properly entitled to 

 the name of stomach, or into either of the great diverticula 

 appended to it. The inferior walls of the central stomach have 

 nine or ten cavities in them, something like those of the Camel 

 and Dromedary. The lining membrane both of the stomach and 

 diverticula is granular and wrinkled except near the pylorus, 

 where the parietes become smooth and folded into numerous 

 plicas somewhat resembling those of the third stomach of a 

 ruminant. 



Professor Vrolik 2 received from the Cape of Good Hope 

 drawings of the viscera of a half-grown Hippopotamus, and states 

 that they showed two pouches on each side of the cardia, which 

 communicate with a large pouch the cavity of which is divided 

 transversely by numerous folds, like valves : between that large 

 cavity and the pylorus there is a narrow appendage which opens 

 at the pylorus : this latter appendage is not indicated in Dau- 

 benton's figures or description. Thus, the stomach resembles that 



1 cxxn'. torn, xii, p. 55, pi. iv. 2 CLIV". p. 



86. 



