177 



as noticed by Mr. Owen in the Capromys ; and a transverse ridge se- 

 parated the entrance of the bladder frora the orifices of the vašu de- 

 ferentia and vesicula seminales. Below this ridge ■vvas a small conical 

 body, at the apex of which opened the vasa deferentia, and on the 

 sides the vesicula seminales. The latter, -vvhen opened, were found 

 filled with a ■white hard curdy matter having some resemblance to 

 the roe of fishes. This substance filled a great poition of the ure- 

 thra also, 



" The prostate gland appeared likę accessory res/cM/(E, and was 

 closely united to the base of those bodies : it M'as divided into two 

 large lobes, each of -vybich was found to be composed of a number 

 of blind tubes or elongated cells, united into a mass by cellular mem- 

 brane. They ^vere easily unravelled into a tuft of longfringes, each 

 tube being 4 of an inch in length. These tubes all concentrated in 

 a small spot, \vhere they opened by a few minute orifices into the 

 urethra at the base of the little conical elevation before alluded to. 



"The distance from the prostate to the base of the bulb of the 

 urethra was 1-į inch. 



" The membranous part of the urethra was closely embraced by a 

 layer of muscular fibres : the acceleratores vrince investing the bulb 

 were large and strong : the erectores were fleshy ; they embraced the 

 crura penis. On each side of the bulb, extemal to the accelerator 

 urinte, lay a gland as large as a filbert, -vv-hence proceeded a tube of 

 the diameter of a crow-quiU, which passing beneath the accelerator 

 entered the bulb of the urethra above its centre. The length of this 

 duct was 1 inch. These glands are, I suppose, to be considered as 

 the glandulce ante-prostatee, or Cowper's glands. 



" At the extremity of the rectum on its abdominal aspect was si- 

 tuated a large glandular sac of the size of a \valnut filled with in- 

 odorous creamy matter ; its excretory orifice was just within the 

 anai opening. This sac was invested ■with a tunic of muscular fibres 

 continued from the sphincter and levator ani. 



' ' The tongue was acuminate and 3 inches in length, its surface 

 covered mth small retroverted shining velvety papillce ; two large 

 distinct papillce of an oval form appearing at the base. The free part 

 of the tongue, that is from the f ranum to the apex, -yvas -I- of an inch. 

 The basai portion of the dorsum was elevated, but not so abruptly 

 as in some Rodents ; the disc, however, \vas sufficiently marked. 



" ^rhefauces were found to form a funnel-shaped ca\'ity with nei- 

 ther tonsils nor palate arches ; but the soft palate was continuous to 

 the posterior aperture, \vhich barelj' admitted the entrance of a com- 

 mon quill. The posterior nares were continued likę a fiinnel beyond 

 this posterior orifice of the fauces, and received into their aperture 

 the glottis, epiglottis, and arytenoid cartilages, so that the margiu 

 of the orifice of the fauces lay in contact with the dorsum of the 

 tongue anterior to the epiglottis, which rose behind it, and which it 

 ■was evident coiUd not be brought at all under the soft palate ; hence 

 respiration and every vocal intonation mušt proceed through the 

 nostrils. 



" The epiglottis was broad basally, but not elevated ; it assumed 



