53 



apex ; Its length 2 feet 4 inches, its basai circumference about 7 

 inches. When blown up it formed a spirai turn and a half. The 

 large intestines at tlieir commencement were about 7 inches in circum- 

 ference, the decrease being gradual. The lining membrane of the 

 colon formed a series of regular longitudinal strice, gradually disap- 

 pearing as the intestine narrowed, until at length they finally disap- 

 peared. The colon in its course followed the circular sweep of the 

 cacum to -vvhich it was attached by a riband of mesentery 1^ inch 

 in breadth. 



At about two feet fi"om its origin the colon merges into a flat layer 

 of circular folds, the intestine making four distinct gyrations ; from 

 this part to the anus the intestine measured 9 feet 3 inches. 



The circular fold above noticed is analogous to the long loose 

 fold obsen'ed in the šame parts of the intestine in other Rodentia, 

 as the Coypus, and Capromys, and which is noticed in the respective 

 accounts of the dissection of those animals in the Zoological Pro- 

 ceedings. 



At a little distance above these circular folds, and throughout 

 the remainder of the intestinal canal, th^fmces assumed a knotted 

 character. 



The liver formed a right and left portion ; the right portion was 

 dinded into two parts, of which the innermost was the smallest ; 

 the Icft portion was di\dded into four nearly equal lobuli ; between 

 the first and second of \vhich (reckoning from the centre) projected 

 tlie gali bladder, very large, and distended -vvith bile of a dark green 

 colour ; its shape was oval, being 21 inches long, but it was evidently 

 over-distended. On turning up the liver a large hepatic duct \vas seen 

 runningfrom its base, for the length of an inch, to join the cysticduct, 

 nearly 2 inches from the origin of the latter ; the common duct thus 

 formed was lį inch in length, and terminated at the neck of the 

 duodenal sac 2į inches from the pyloric orifice. 



The spleen of a prismatic figure, 2į inches long, was some\vhat 

 closely adherent to the cardium ; its colour Tvas dark. Spreading 

 in the mesenteric membrane below the stomach, and between this, 

 the spleen, and the duodenal fold, lay the pancreas, a large foliaceous 

 gland of an irregular figure. 



The vena portą ■was large and gorged ■vvith blood. 



The kidneys vi'ere nearly in a parallel line ^vith each other; their 

 figure was elongated, (being 3 inches in length by one in breadth at 

 the middle,) and at their upper apex, intemally, lay the renal cap- 

 sules, long cylindrical bodies, of an ochreous colour, and extending 

 to the emulgent vessels. 



The right kidney lay much closer to the vena port<e than did 

 the left ; the vena portce in fact passed over the renal capsule on the 

 right side, while the upper apex of the kidney ^vvas in contact with 

 it. The length of the renal capsules was I5 inch, their figure vermi- 

 form. 



There \vas no marked line of division between the cortical and 

 medullary substances of the kidney. The urinary iubuli converged 

 into three obtuse papillce ; the pelvis ■R'as very small. 



