8 



its extension, has no existence : the only modifications of the vas- 

 cular system worthy of notice \vere the large size and sliglit plexiform 

 arrangement of the lingual veins at the under part of the base of the 

 tongue. The inner surface of the lips, especially \vhere they 

 join to form the angles of the mouth, \vas beset ■with numerous 

 close-set, strong, retroverted and pointed papilla, sirailar to those 

 distributed over the interior of the guUet in the Chelonice ; a struc- 

 ture which is also present in other Ruminants. 



The palate \vas beset with about sixteeii iiregular transverse 

 ridges, having a free denticulate edge directed backwards ; an appa- 

 ratus for detaining the food, and insuring its deglutition, which Mr. 

 Owen notices as especially reąuired in the Giraffe, by reason of the 

 small comparative size of its head and jaws : he also refers to the 

 mechanical obstacles, which oppose the escape of the food \vhen re- 

 gurgitated, in the Ruminantia generally, as the presence of buccal 

 papilla, &c. as an evidence on -vvhich to found an argument of spe- 

 cial adaptation or design. This structure is noticed by Cnvier, but 

 considered by him as only coexistent mth the occui-rence of papUlce 

 upon the lining membrane of the stomach, and as a condition of 

 parts ■vvhicli furnishes no obvious indication of any connexion \vith 

 finai causes ; with a view of shoAving that no such relation of coex- 

 istence as that imagined by Cuvier, in the presence of papillce upon 

 difFerent portions of the alimentary canal, can be positively esta- 

 blished, Mr. Owen instances the Turtle, which has these callous 

 bodies in great abundance, but entirely restricted to the lining mem- 

 brane of the asophagus, in which situation their use is sufficiently 

 apparent. 



The asophagus in size ■was found to be very regular and uniform 

 throughout its entire length, being about an inch and three ąuarters 

 in diameter, and surrounded with two strong layers of muscular 

 fibres ; the fibres being thickest, and arranged transversely in the 

 external layers ; those of the internal being obliąue, with an approach 

 towards a longitudinal disposition. Tlicse fibres on being examined 

 Tvith the microscope and compared \\iib. those of the stomach, Avere 

 found by Mr. Owen to present a structure which he regards as inter- 

 mediate between that ■vvhich characterizes voluntary and involuntary 

 muscular fibre ; their ultimate filaments being aggregated into regular 

 sized ultimate fascicles having a paraJlel disposition, and thus so far 

 agreeifig ^ith the fibres of the voluntary museles, but at the šame 

 time exhibiting an important structural difFerence in the totai ab- 

 sence of transverse sli-ice ; the fascicles in fact being perfectly smooth 

 and substransparent. 



The mucous membrane of the msophagus was thick and firm, 

 lined by a -cvell-developed smooth ejnthelium, and connected to the 

 muscular coat by a very lax cellular membrane. 



As regards the position of the abdominal viscera in the female, 

 the paunch occupied the ventral aspect of the anterior frn'o-tliirds of 

 the short abdominal cavity, resting immediately upon the abdominal 

 museles and their strong elastic f ascice. The great omentum vvhich was 

 studded reticularly with fat, as in the Ruminants generally, extended 



