152 



lt was provided with a valvular apparatus similar to that described in 

 the stomach of the Armad'dlo (p. 142.), consisting ofa tubercle com- 

 posed of condensed cellular structure, whicli projected above the ori- 

 fice, and gavę it a semilunar fovm. This valve, together vvith the 

 small size of the orifice, mušt contribute to retain the food in the 

 stomach until it has undergone complete digestion. It is difficult to 

 imagine that the cranial bones or vertebrcc of fishes caii pass through 

 this aperture, unless they are previously dissolved. Are they regur- 

 gitated, likę the castings of Ow!s ? The transverse diameter of the 

 pyloms was half an inch, its vertical diameter not more than 2 lines ; 

 the diameter of the cardiac aperture \vas 1 inch and a half. 



'• The duodenum descends abruptly from the pijlorus, and is con- 

 nected by a continuation of peritoneiun with the [jyioric end of the 

 stomach. It is contracted at its origin, but soon dilates, and a sac- 

 cutus is formed betvveen its muscular and mucous coats for the recep- 

 tion of the biliary and pancreatic secretions, vvhich afterwards are 

 conducted through anarrovv passage into the intestine. Having de- 

 scended as far as the right kidney, the duodenum turns to the left in 

 theusual manner, but has a complete investmentoi' peritoneum through 

 its whole course : at the left side of the abdomen it carries forvvard 

 this process of peritoneum, which forms the mesentery in the usual 

 manner. The small intestine.s do not exceed 1 inch and a half in 

 circumference, but their deficiency in this article of their dimensions 

 is compensated for by their great lenglh. The large intestines com- 

 mence by a short round ccecum, which in both instances was situated 

 close to the pyloric end of the stomach : the greatest circumference 

 of the colon was 4 inches. 



"The interiorof the stomach was smooth and vvithout rugee; the in- 

 testines had the šame character. 



"The liver consisted of five lobes, vvhich were remarkably elongated, 

 somevvhat triedral, and pointed at the extremity. The gall-bladder, 

 2 inches and a half long, was lodged in the third lobe, counting 

 from the right ; tlie suspensory ligament entered anolher division of 

 this lobe. The gall-bladder received t\vo small ducts directly from the 

 liver, or hepato-cystic ducts. The cystic duct was joined by a small 

 hepatic duct about half an inch from the gall-bladder ; and a little 

 lower down was joined by alarger hepatic duct, which was formed by 

 the junction of two other ducts, each of which was also formed by the 

 union of two ducts, coming distinctiy from the four smaller lobes of 

 the liver. The duetus communis was I inch and a half long ; it A'as 

 joined by the pancreatic duct, as it terminated in the dilated sacculus 

 before mentioned. 



" The pancreas was composed of a large and a small portion of the 

 usual structure and in the usual situation. The spleen, a flattened 

 body vvith an irregular notched margin, measured 5 inches and a 

 half in length. It was attached to the epiploon in such a manner that 

 it could be drawn away for some distatice from the stomach, and in 

 the intervening membrane were situated a number of small dark glan- 

 dular bodies from the size ofa horsebean to that ofa pea, vvhich, if 

 they had been met vvith in a Porpoise, I should have considered as 



