20 INTESTINE AND DIET OF REPTILES. 



of tbe fourth and smallest valve is pnly 1 cm. There is no 

 sharp bend between tbe colon and tbe rectuni in tbis animal. 

 Tbe food of tbis animal seems to be entirely of vege- 

 table origin. Tbe contents of tbe ventricle bas already been 

 stated to consist of large pie.ces of leaves wbicb of conrse 

 bave not been masticated, but simply torn off. In tbe small 

 intestine are also found large pieces of leaves, but tbe}' are 

 of a different consistence beeing softer and soggier. Tbe mäss 

 wbicb fills tbe cccco-colic tract contains pieces of leaves in 

 different stages of decomposition. Some of tbem consist only 

 of tbe skeletal network formed b}^ tbe vessels or veins of tbe 

 leaves, some otbers provided witb a inore resistant epiderm 

 sbow also tbe latter tissue in a niore or less complete state. 

 Large pieces of leaves cbiefly consisting of coUencbymatous 

 tissue seem to bave been wboUy protected by tbe same. Tbe 

 coarsest and crudest material tbus remains, but it is evident 

 tbat a considerable quantity of cellulose bas been decomposed 

 and digested and tbis bas taken place in tbe dilated cooco- 

 colic tract. 



Ctenosaiira acaiithiira Shaw. 



Distance from snout to veut about o40 mm. 



Tbe viscera of tbe specimen I bave bad for investigation 

 were in a very bad state and tbe measurements are tberefore 

 only approximate. Tbe lengtb of tbe small intestine was 

 about 74 cm. and tbat of tbe large one about 30 cm. Tbere 

 is a sbort, but wide, rounded coecum. Tbe proximal portion 

 of tbe colon is very wide as in tbe Iguana. Tbere is a well 

 developed valvula ileoaecalis and from tbe same extends a 

 sbort valvula cmcocolica. About 2^/2 cm. from tbe ojiening 

 of tbe ileum tbe colon is provided witb a strongly developed 

 diapbragmatic valve extending all round, measnring from 2V 2 

 to 1 cm. in widtb. About 14 mm. from tbis one is a semi- 

 lunar valve and at about tbe same distance furtber down a 

 second, and 18 mm. from tbat a tbird semilunar valve. Tbe 

 size of tbe semilunar valves decreases from tbe first to tbe 

 last so tbat tbe first extends fully 2 cm. wbere it is deepest 

 on tbe mesenteric side, tbe second l^ 2 cm. and tbe tbird only 

 4 mm. At tbe same time tbe marginal extension of tbe val- 

 ves is diminisbed in a corresponding degree. Distally from 



