OF THE SOUTHERN APTERYX. 267 
partly divided into two lateral ones by the stomach, and the omental process con- 
tinued from it to the lower or posterior margin of the hepatic septum. 
A great quantity of adipose matter was accumulated, in one specimen, beneath the 
peritoneum. The two lobes of the liver occupied as usual the anterior part of the ab- 
dominal cavity, extending from above the notches of the sternum to midway between 
the sternum and the cloaca. The stomach was entirely concealed by the large omental 
adipose process above-mentioned, by dividing which and separating the divided por- 
tions (as in Plate XLVIII. fig. 3, a, a,) as much of the stomach was exposed as projects 
between and beyond the lobes of the liver. The space between the stomach and cloaca 
was occupied by long and simple loops of intestine, extending obliquely, and nearly 
parallel with each other, from the upper and right to the lower and left side of the 
abdomen. In one specimen these loops were concealed, like the stomach, by omental 
processes, thickly charged with fat (0, 6,) ; each loop also included between the layers 
of its narrow mesentery one or two thick processes of fat (c, c,), except the duodenal loop, 
the interspace of which was occupied as usual by the two lobes of a narrow elongated 
pancreas, the pointed extremity of the anterior lobe of which extended freely beyond the 
bend of the duodenum, as represented in the figure (Pl. XLVII. fig. 3, d,). In one 
specimen the duodenum formed the longest and most superficial loop (e, Pl. XLIX.). 
Below or posterior to it lay the first loop of the jejunum, (f, Pl. XLIX.) and immediately 
below this appeared the dilated end of the rectum (g, Pl. XLIX.). In a second Apteryx 
I found that four loops of intestine, including the duodenum, were immediately exposed 
by dissecting away the omental processes : on raising these loops the rectum was seen 
extending forwards about 2 inches along the mesial line, and then receiving the ileum 
and the extremities of the two ceca. Only the anterior half of the rectum has an en- 
tire investment of peritoneum ; at its posterior or lower half that membrane leaves the 
abdominal parietes on each side of the rectum, and gradually advances upon the ante- 
rior part of the gut. 
The lobes of the liver require to be divaricated and raised, and the stomach and 
its omental processes to be drawn aside, in order to trace the disposition of the whole 
intestinal canal. The duodenal loop, which in one specimen was about 4 inches, in 
another 5 inches in length, extends in a curved direction from the stomach to the 
right side of the abdomen, curves obliquely across the lower surface of the abdomen 
to the posterior and left side, and returns upon itself: the anterior half of this loop 
is closely attached to the other coils of the intestine ; the rest of the duodenum is 
suspended freely in the abdomen. The intestine, after having formed the duodenal 
loop, bends abruptly upon itself backwards and to the right, and then forms a 
second loop, 34 inches long, which continues straight down the right side of the abdo- 
men ; its extremityis seen at Pl. XLVIII. fig.3, f. Three similar but somewhat shorter 
loops are then formed to the left of the preceding, after which the intestine returns 
to near the commencement of the duodenum, behind the stomach and close to the root 
2n2 
