160 THE VOYAGE OF H.M.S. CHALLENGER. 



slender, but they gradually become stouter and club-shaped (PI. X. fig. 1). Proceeding 

 still further back they diminish greatly in numbers, become stunted and conical, and 

 finally arrange themselves in parallel longitudinal rows (PL X. figs. 2, 3, and 4). 

 About 16 inches above the anal orifice they disappear. 1 



Plate X. fig. 5 represents a small portion of the intestine of the Lion, inverted to 

 show the villous surface. Comparing this with fig. 1 it will be seen that the character 

 of the villi in the Thylacine is altogether different. In the former the mucous surface is 

 fleecy, and in the latter it is shaggy. 2 



Peyer's 'patches. — One Peyer's patch of enormous extent begins about 16 inches 

 above the anus, and extends forwards for 22^ inches in the male, and 14 inches in the 

 female. It is not placed opposite the mesenteric attachment but coincides with it, and 

 it presents a minutely honey-combed appearance. In connection with this patch the 

 mucous membrane is elevated into a feebly-marked ridge which runs along its whole length, 

 and frequently divides and reunites. Alveolar pits are grouped upon and on either side 

 of this ridge. Figure 3 (PI. X.) represents the lower end of this patch. 



In addition to this large patch there are several others placed further forwards in the gut 

 (viz., three in the male and five in the female). In the male these were from one to two 

 inches long ; in the female they were with one exception (viz., that figured in PI. X. 

 fig. 4) not more than half an inch long. The small Peyer's patches are much obscured 

 by villi, and can only be detected by a careful search. 



In the rectum the mucous membrane is perfectly smooth, and is everywhere per- 

 forated with the minute orifices of Lieberktilmean glands. These are quite visible to the 

 naked eye. 



The intestinal canal is suspended from the upper abdominal wall by a simple 

 mesentery. 



discus. 



Stomach. — This stomach is smaller than that of the Vulpine phalanger. It is pyri- 

 form in shape with the pyloric end bent upwards upon itself, and held in position by a 

 strong band which bridges across, and continues the lesser curvature over the constriction. 

 When this band remains uncut the oesophagus joins the stomach at the middle of the 

 lesser curvature; when it is divided and the pyloric end of the stomach freed, the gullet 

 enters much nearer the left than the right extremity of the curvature. 



The cardiac cul-de-sac rises high above the cardiac orifice, and the oesophagus traverses 

 the abdomen for fully an inch before it enters the stomach. 



1 The mucous lining of the intestine of the Dasyurus viverrinus is provided with extremely small villi, barely 

 visible to the naked eye. They are filamentous in form and are sparsely set. The zone of glands mentioned hy 

 Professor Owen (Proc. Zool. Soc, 1835), as being present at the commencement of the duodenum of the Dasyurus 

 macrurus is apparently absent in the Viverrine Dasyure. It is also absent in Thylacine. 



2 The villi of the anterior part of the intestine in Thylacinus are very similar to those in the small intestine 

 of the Rhinoceros. They are quite as long, but are not nearly so thickly set upon the mucous surface. 



