Anatomical Structure of certain of the Cetacea. 415 



To this cavity the branches of the nervi vagi (which are 

 large and distinct) do not proceed in any great abundance, their 

 course is rather towards the second cavity or stomach, whose 

 structure I shall now endeavour to describe. The capacity of 

 the second stomachal cavity is less than that of the first, and its 

 structure differs remarkably from it. The aperture of commu- 

 nication betwixt these cavities admits readily enough the fore- 

 finger, and here the internal textures of the first stomach sud- 

 denly cease ; the epidermic covering and subjacent mucous mem- 

 brane cease, and there is substituted for them a perfectly smooth 

 membrane, without villosities or glandular structures ; it has a 

 good deal the appearance of a serous membrane. This closely 

 invests a series of fibres, which externally are covered by an ex- 

 tremely vascular and cellular tunic. These fibres are placed per- 

 pendicularly betwixt the two membranes I have spoken of, and 

 quite close to each other. They may be considered, then, as 

 placed on the outer surface of the internal membrane of the sto- 

 mach like a pile of velvet enclosed by thin lamina or plates *. 

 Outside the vasculo-cellular layer, muscular layers exist, continu- 



* I here take the liberty of subjoining a microscopical examination of the struc- 

 ture by Dr BUEWSTER. " I have examined the piece of stomach you have sent me 

 of one of the Cetacea. It seems, in its wet state, to consist of tubes or fibres, per- 

 pendicular to the two membranes which enclose them, thus : and the 



upper surface of one of the membranes is covered with hollows or depressions, cor- 

 responding with the extremities of the tubes or fibres. A more minute examination, 

 conducted in a different way, proves these perpendicular portions to be tubes. In 

 order to dry it, I pressed it between folds of paper, and the effect of the compres- 

 sion was, to press together nearly all the tubes, and make the whole one dense mass 

 of a dark brown colour ; but when it became dry, and slightly indu rated, I drew it 

 out as if it had been India rubber, and the tubes opened and the the mass became 

 white, thus * : 



* See Edin. PhiL Journal by Dr BBEWSTER. 



