Coe and Kunkel— California Limbless Lizard. 355 
and duodenum, the latter passing gradually into the more slender 
ileum, which is slightly convoluted and narrows gradually toward its 
posterior opening into the large intestine (text-fig. 1). The total 
length of the small intestine when straightened out and extended is 
about twice as great as in its natural position. The large intestine 
is sharply demarcated from the ileum and exhibits, especially when 
well distended, an indication of a cecum. A fluted circular valve 
somewhat similar to that between the stomach and duodenum 
hes between the rectum and cloaca. 
The whole alimentary canal thus consists of an almost perfectly 
straight tube (text-fig. 1) except for the slight convolution of the 
duodenum and ileum. As in Anguis, the conditions here conform 
to the requirements of a slender, elongated body, and are markedly 
different from those found in most lizards, where the intestine is 
greatly convoluted. Comparative lengths of different portions of 
this tube are as follows in a lizard about 22° long: 
Tip of snout to opening of esophagus, esos 
Length of esophagus, (about). 5 (OSS 
Oper etomachy Wack.) tan Can Somer nog mm 
a * duodenum and ileum, ; ie AOS 
ee “ rectum, : P : : cea reel Ole te 
sf ‘cloaca; : : : , BON 5) 
Tail behind cloacal opening, : for 
The esophagus is remarkably long and slender and is provided 
with highly distensible muscular walls. It passes into the stomach 
without any sharp line of demarcation 
(text-fig. 1). The stomach is usually 
straight and is directly continuous with 
the esophagus as in snakes. When much 
food is taken, a portion of it remains in 
the posterior part of the esophagus after 
the stomach has been moderately filled. 
In a few cases noted the stomach was dis- 
tinctly curved, with the pylorus on the 
right side of the body. In_ histological 
structure the walls of the stomach com- 
prise the usual muscular and connective 
Figure 2. Portion of trans- tissue layers, while the mucous membrane 
verse section of mucosa of .- 1 . 
stomach, showing the simple |8 remarkably thin, and the glands short 
short tubular gastric glands and much twisted (text-fig. 2). The lin- 
beneath the superficial epithe- i144 of simple columnar epithelium, con- 
lium. x 290. at ; 3 é 
tinues directly into the shallow pits, from 
