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PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM 



VOL. 70 



between the dorsum and the lateral sheet (fig. 8). In the anterior 

 lumbar region there is no such hiatus, and for a short distance the 

 fibers run from the middorsal line Avell down over the flank. Ven- 

 trad of the axilla the fibers of this muscle extend quite to the mid- 

 ventral line, but farther caudad they do not run so far ventrad. 

 Discernible fibers of the main sheet of the panniculus cease dorsad 

 of the anus; but there are superficial fibers converging to the anus 

 and vulva. These seem to constitute a specialized portion of the 

 panniculus, now segregated from the main sheet and undoubtedly 

 having the function of a compressor inaiTrniae. About the mammary 

 orifice there are vestiges of fibers so placed as to constitute a modi- 

 fied sphincter. 



Most investigators of the Cetacea have not differentiated a plat- 

 ysma from the panniculus, and the condition of the specimens at hand 

 precluded an attempt at such a division. The suprabrachial portion 



Fig. 8. — Panniculus carnosus axd othek superficial^ skin muscdlatuhe of 



neomeris 



of this superficial sheet has origin from the midventral line. The 

 more ventral portion of the muscle is extremely heavy, the fibers 

 being very coarse and loosely joined, with many small cavities of 

 varying size, as large as a couple of millimeters in breadth, through- 

 out the mass. In life these cavities may be filled with soft fat or oil. 

 The consietency of this portion of the muscle is such as to suggest 

 that there may possibly be some glandular action — perhaps certain 

 elements of a specialized submaxillary gland. No parotid gland was 

 encountered. This part of the muscle, then, extends craniad almost 

 to the chin, and the fibers run dorsad to the midlateral region but 

 cease before the eye or ear are reached. Insertion of the panniculus 

 fibers onto the tough, superificial tissue of the brachium is continuous 

 around the entire humerus. 



Kogia is figured as having a wider, more extensive raphe running 

 more caudo-ventrad than caudo-dorsad. The panniculus sheet is 

 evidently more extensive, meeting the middorsal and midventral lines 

 for a considerable distance and stretching to the peduncle. Except 

 for the absence of the lateral raphe in Murie's figure the panniculus 

 of Glohiocephala seems to be very similar to, although somewhat less 



