STOMACH OF RUMINANTS. 
183 
process of digestion. The external appearance of the stomach 
of the Sheep is seen in fig. 109 ; and its interior is displayed 
in fig. 110. The food of the Ruminant animals is not 
chewed by them before it is first swallowed. In their wild 
state, they are peculiarly exposed to the attacks of their car¬ 
nivorous enemies, when they come down from their rocky 
heights to browse upon the rich pastures of the valleys. If 
they were then obliged to masticate every mouthful, they 
would be subjected to long-continued danger at every meal; 
but, by the curious construction of the digestive apparatus, 
this is spared to them ; for they are enabled to swallow their 
food as fast as they can crop it, and afterwards to return it to 
their mouths, so as to masticate it at their leisure, when they 
have retreated to a place of safety. The crude unmasticated 
food, which is brought-down by the oesophagus, first enters the 
large cavity on the left side, which is commonly termed the 
paunch. It is there soaked, as it were, in the fluid secreted 
(Esophagus 
Groove 
Manyplies 
Reed 
Intestine Honeycomb Paunch 
Fig. 110.— Section of the Stomachs of the Sheep. 
by its walls; and is then transmitted to the second cavity, 
which, from the sort of network produced by the irregular 
folding of its lining membrane, is called the reticulum or 
honey-comb stomach. This stomach also has a direct commu¬ 
nication with the oesophagus, and appears destined especially 
to receive the fluid that is swallowed; for this passes im¬ 
mediately into it, without going into the first stomach at all. 
The folds of its lining membrane present a large surface, 
through which fluid may be absorbed into the system. It is 
