482 Zoological Society, 



ing notes with the description of the anatomy of the Wombat by 

 Mr. Owen. 



" On reflecting the skin of the abdomen, there appeared a small 

 transverse muscle arising from the skin on either side, which passed 

 over the marsupial hones, towards their upper extremity, acting as 

 a support to, and a compressor of them. 



"The pyramidalis muscle, to which, on its outer side is attached 

 the inner edge of the marsupial bone, radiated from this bone to the 

 middle line, and sent off a broad/asm of fibres over the rectus mus- 

 cle to the cartilages of the ribs. The rectus began broad from the 

 cartilages of the lower ribs, its fibres appearing to mix with those of 

 the pectoralis; it continued its course broad to the pubis, and was 

 inserted in the usual manner. The external oblique was thick and 

 its fibres remarkably strong ; the internal oblique gave off a strong 

 cremaster, which ran down the spermatic cord as far as the testis. 



*' The transversalis as usual. 



" The first head of the triceps adductor femor is was connected by 

 a slip of fibres to the external apex of the triangular base of the 

 marsupial bone, giving to that bone, by its contraction, a slight ex- 

 ternal motion. 



" The panniculus carnosus was very strong, especially over the 

 back and sides. 



" Tlie capacity of the thorax was very small m comparison with 

 that of the abdomen. 



" The stomach occupied the left side of the abdominal cavity, 

 scarcely passing the mesial line ; its pyloric portion bent down 

 abruptly, forming a narrow arch through which protruded the /o- 

 bulus Spigelii of the liver. 



" The liver consisted of two equal parts, a right and left, both 

 closely attached by membranous (or peritoneal) processes to the 

 diaphragm; the lig amentum latum verged towards the left side. The 

 right portion of the liver was divided into three foliaceous lobes, the 

 left into two : the free edges of this viscus were deeply and abruptly 

 fissured, as if cut with a knife ; and its under surface presented an 

 irregular congeries of small lobuli or appendages, clustered thickly 

 together ; on the left side, the outer lobe of the liver passed com- 

 pletely behind or dorsad of the stomach, the cardiac portion of which 

 advanced as low as the left kidney. The outer lobe of the liver on 

 the right side advanced in a pointed form, and passed behind the 

 whole of the dorsal surface of the right kidney. The great mass 

 of the liver had, in fact, a dorsad position, the anterior portion being 

 comparatively very trifling. 



•• The gall-bladder was seated in the fissure between the first and 

 second lobes, reckoning from the right side ; it was very large, but 

 empty. Of great width at its base, it narrowed gradually to an al- 

 most vermiform apex, and its total length was 3| inches. Its duct, 

 of considerable calibre, terminated exactly one inch below the py- 

 lorus. 



*' The spleen was long, thin, and tongue-shaped ; it lay loosely 

 adhering to the cardium ; its greatest breadth was ^ an inch, its 



