8 



abdominal cavity, was very striking, a circumstance which might 

 be considered as furnishing an index to the habits and vital energy 

 of this tribe of active and ferocious quadrupeds. On measuring the 

 length of the vena cava in the chest, it was found to be 4 inches. 

 The heart was of large size and rather fat; the coronary veins were 

 found to terminate in the right auricle to the left side of the poste- 

 rior cava at its entrance. 



" The liver consisted of five lobes and a lobulus Spigelii. In the 

 middle lobe, a deep fissure cut quite through its substance for the 

 reception of the gall-bladder, the fundus of which appeared through 

 the fissure on the anterior surface of the lobe. The gall-bladder 

 was large and filled with green bile : the ductus choledochus, in 

 length 3 inches, terminated an inch below the pylorus, and just be- 

 low this again the duct of the pancreas. 



" The pancreas was of considerable length, beginning about 5 

 inches below the stomach ; passing on to the termination of the 

 ductus choledochus ; then leaving the duodenum and taking its course 

 over the posterior surface of the cardium, inclining backwards and 

 terminating at the posterior edge of the spleen. For some distance 

 before its termination it was found enveloped in omentum. 



" The kidneys were in length 3 inches, the pelvis of each large. 

 The supra-renal glands were compressed, triangular, and hollow ; 

 their texture firm and white, not unlike condensed fibrine. The left 

 emulgent vein received the spermatic of that side ; but the right 

 spermatic, which was much shorter, terminated in the vena cava. 



" The stomach in shape was found to be very prolonged, lessening 

 gradually from the cardiac portion, but rather increasing again 

 before ending in the pylorus. Its length following the large curva- 

 ture was 2 feet, and the small intestines measured 13 feet 10 inches. 

 The caecum extended 3 inches from the termination of the small in- 

 testines, but was smaller in its circumference than the colon. The 

 large intestines measured 24- feet. 



" The tongue, flattened towards the tip and rounded there, ex- 

 hibited on its surface, for a considerable distance, a grove of horny 

 points arising from its papilla and reflected backwards : these di- 

 minish in size and number as they proceed onwards, the base of the 

 tongue becoming quite smooth. 



" The distance from the base of the tongue to the rima glottidis 

 measured fully 3 inches ; and, as in the Lion, the posterior nares 

 were continued on by a canal which opened upon the rima glottidis , 

 a construction adapted perhaps for allowing freedom of breathing 

 during the gorging of food, and probably of use also in giving some 

 modification to the tone or character of voice. 



"The rugce of the pharynx were slight and transverse. 



" The os hyoides consisted of three portions, a body and two small 

 bones ; the body forming three sides of an oblong square, the angles 

 being rather rounded, and to these angles the two separate portions 

 of bone, of a semilunar shape, (having the indented edge external,) 

 were attached. The thyroid and cricoid cartilages were strong and 

 broad. 



