LÖNNBERG. ANATOMY OF INDIAN TAPIR. 



13 



ding portion is about 3 cm. long and its mucosa is laid into 

 numerous longitiidinal folds. This tube has on one side a 

 special attachment to the inner surface of the csecum. 



The shape of the csecum is shown by the accompanying 

 figures (fig. 5 & 6). Already by them it is indicated how very 

 distinct this organ is from the other parts of the intestine 

 which proves tbat the food-material can be kept there for 

 digestive purposes just as 

 completely shut in as in a 

 ventricle. The interiör of the 

 csecum displays (fig. 6) a 

 great number of folds, which 

 especially in the fundus end 

 and along the greater cur- 

 vature form a very striking 

 pattern. There is an irre- 

 gular network of folds which 

 are arranged in such a way 

 that between them a number 

 of crypts or »cells» are for- 

 med to some degree remin- 

 ding about the structure of 

 the reticulum of certain 

 ruminants, although Avidely 

 differing from that in seve- 

 ral respects by lacking regu- 

 larity and by different shape 

 of the surrounding septa. 

 The latter have a broad sur- 

 face towards the cavity and thinner basal parts, thus resem- 

 bling the letter T in section (fig. 7), The crypts are accor- 

 dingly to some extent roofed över along their borders. The 

 depth of the crypts is variable, but many of them are more 

 than 1 cm. deep. The folds (and the crypts formed by them) 

 are directed radially to the curvature, or transversely to the 

 axis of the organ, which is in correspondence with the longi- 

 tudinal arrangement of the muscular bands, the strongest of 

 which runs along the great curvature. 



Before the csecum passes into the colon its lumen is 



^ This structure has been observed by Poel^iax and Parker but not 

 desoribed in detail. 



7. A piece of the interiör surface of the 

 caecum of an Indian Tapir showing the folds 

 and crypts, about V2 nat zise. 



