130 PROCEEDINGS OP THE ACADEMY OP [1881. 



as is the case in fishes. According to Gratiolet,^ it is doubtful 

 if they were present in the very young animal. 



What at once struck me, on exposing the larynx, etc., was the 

 space (PI. XI, fig. 1) intervening between it and the tongue, and 

 the large size of the back of the tongue as compared with the 

 epiglottis. Through the flexibility of this space the larynx when 

 elevated can be thrust up into the posterior nares ; this space, 

 together with the tongue, effectually cutting off the cavity of the 

 mouth. This can be well seen in the living animal. It is possible 

 that tliis disposition of the parts may be of advantage to tlie Hippo- 

 potamus when sunk in the water. Under such circumstances, the 

 nose only appearing, the air can pass into the external nares and 

 so back directly into the larynx. Further, as the external nares 

 are extremely flexible and close very tightly, it may be that the 

 animal before sinking under the water can take in a considerable 

 quantity of air into the nose and retain it there until needed, 

 when it is then drawn into the lar3nix. On looking over the 

 literature of the anatomy of the Hippopotamus, I find that 

 Gratiolet^ and Clark » are the only ones who dwell particularly 

 upon this part of its economy. Clark gives figures of tlie spaces 



1 have referred to, and points out what appears to be the probable 

 function of the parts. The lar3nix and its muscles have been 

 well described hy Gratiolet,* Crisp ^ and Clark." It would be 

 superfluous therefore for me to dwell upon them. I will, however, 

 call attention in this connection to the fact of the epiglottis 

 (Plate XI, figs. 1 and 2 e) being small as compared with the larynx 

 (Plate XI, fig. 2), the former measuring 2|- inches in length, and 



2 inches wide, the latter being 6i inches long and 6^ in circum- 

 ference, and that the nares, epiglottis, etc., of the Hippopotamus 

 I'eminded me rather of those of the Manatee than of those of the 

 Cetacea. The vocal cords were situated obliquely, the anterior 

 ends being lowermost; they measure 2 inches in length and ^ inch 

 in depth. There was nothing peculiar about the lungs ; they were 

 not divided into lobes or subdivided into lobviles recognizable by 

 the naked eye, as described by Gratiolet.^ 



The stomach in the Hippopotamus is subdivided into four distinct 



1 Op. cit., p. 384. 2 Op. cit., p. 375. 



3 Op. cit., p. 188. * Op. cit., p. 305. 



Op. cit., p. 608. •* Compare Gratiolet, op. cit., p. 368. 



On oM. n S74. 



' Op, cit., p. 374 



