Zoological Society, ffl 



formed, however, a small part of this covering, as after extending 

 down over half the abdomen it was reflected upwards, in front of 

 the liver. The lower half of the abdominal cavity was overlapped 

 by broad and thick adipose processes, continued from the lower con- 

 volutions of the colon, without being connected with the great 

 omentum, and from the fundus of the urinary bladder. The appen- 

 dices epiploicce of the human colon may be regarded as rudimentary 

 conditions of the adipose folds here so enormously developed. The 

 stomach corresponded in form and relative size with that of the Chin- 

 chilla (see Trans. Zool. Soc, vol. i. p. 51. pi. V.). The left blind 

 extremity projected about an inch beyond the cardia; the pyloric 

 end became suddenly contracted : the cuticular lining of the oeso- 

 phagus terminated at the cardia in five pointed processes, radiating 

 from the cardia. 



" The duodenum was dilated, as in many other phytophagous Ro- 

 dents, at its commencement; it descends with a slight sigmoid 

 flexure to the right lumbar region, then crosses over to the left side, 

 being freely suspended in a broad duodenal mesentery, which con- 

 tracts as the gut perforates the base of the meso-colon to become the 

 jejunum. The small intestines presented the usual disposition : the 

 caecum is of moderate length, viz. four inches, with a diameter of 

 two and a half inches, thus corresponding in general form with that 

 of the Chinchilla. The colon first crosses obliquely the lower part 

 of the abdomen, and returns, forming a fold of about four inches in 

 extent ; it then describes a second much larger and narrower fold, 

 of ten inches in length : it is at the bend of this fold that the faeces 

 begin to be separated into pellets, and it is from these loops that the 

 omental processes are continued : the colon then bends over the root 

 of the mesentery, passing below the stomach to the left side of the 

 abdomen, where it describes a series of convolutions before ending 

 in the rectum. No omental process is continued from these folds, 

 but the meso-colon, to which they are suspended, is of great breadth, 

 and was loaded with fat. 



Feet. Inches. 



Length of the small intestines 14 9 



large ditto 7 5 



** The anal, vaginal, and urethral outlets are separate from one 

 another. 



" The liver consists of a left lobe, a cystic lobe, and two small 

 right lobes, with a spigelian appendage. The cystic lobe is fissured, 

 and the left division is perforated on its free convex surface to re- 

 ceive a process of the suspensory ligament. 



" The gall-bladder was of very small size. 



" The spleen is triangular, with the upper or anterior angle most 

 produced. 



" The kidneys and suprarenal glands as usual in Rodents. The 

 heart presented the usual form ; two superior venae cavae, the left 

 joining the inferior cava, and receiving the coronary vein. The 



