DE. J. MUKIE ON THE ANATOMY OF THE SEA-LION. 555 



the root of the tongue, possesses plications which correspond to the curve ; and these 

 partially interdigitate with one another. 



The keystone or summit of the said arch, the backward continuation of the fibro- 

 mucous membrane of the hard palate to the velum, is moderately smooth, but dotted 

 with puncta, the orifices of the very numerous palatine muciparous glands. The ex- 

 tension of this membrane becomes the duplicature of the uvula and posterior pillars of 

 the fauces. The anterior palatine arch and faucial pillars are considerably in advance 

 of the posterior, and equidistant between the uvula and proper root of the tongue. 



The so-called anterior pillars of the fauces are moderately prominent bulgings, with 

 a middle indentation running backwards to a recess lodging the tonsils. 



Tonsils. — These amygdaloid bodies correspond very well in shape and size with what 

 they have been likened to, almonds — their free edge and narrow end looking upwards 

 and forwards. The resemblance to the fruit in question is further heightened by 

 their surface being wrinkled and pitted, similar to the sculpturing of its outer husk 

 or shell. There is a deep sulcus above, which runs round in front to the anterior lower 

 third ; the faucial membrane thus constitutes a semilunar fold. In the hollow between 

 the tonsils and fold there is a trabecular arrangement of the membrane connecting 

 them, forming a series of interstices or deep pits. 



The velum pendulum palati, or soft palate, is a thick fold composed of mucous 

 membrane, glandular and connective tissues, with an unusual quantity of strong 

 fleshy muscular fibre. During the contracted state the thick, fleshy velum forms a 

 complete partition between the pharyngeal cavity around the aperture of the glottis and 

 the faucial one in front. The mucous membrane is studded laterally with muciparous 

 apertures, which follow the attached base of the posterior pillars. The pendulous uvulae 

 are divided by a deep median incision. Each uvula is rounded, its free margin running 

 outwards, backwards, and then downwards, as the posterior pillars of the fauces, to the 

 front of the epiglottis ; a fossa, however, exists between the two latter parts. 



The parotid and submaxillary glands in their diminutive development offer resem- 

 blances to the Seal tribe generally. In this Otary the parotid obtains as a small flat 

 subtrihedral body situated below the tympanic region, sunk in a recess partially covered 

 by the cranial end of the sternomastoid muscle. The submaxillary gland is rounder in 

 form, but of nearly the same size as the parotid. It lies lower than the preceding, 

 more behind the angle of the mandible, and upon the surface of the digastric muscle. 

 Below the jaw and tongue, and in the concavity between the latter and inner normal 

 surface, there is a long but irregular chain of flattened glandular substance, the sub- 

 lingual gland. Through its substance the lengthened duct of the submaxillary passes ; 

 and both secretions find exit in the mouth, near the fraenum linguae. 



d. Muscles of the Tongue and Palate. — Mylo-hyoid. Possessing strong coarse fasci- 

 cular bundles of fibres, this broad and somewhat extensive sheet of muscle is attached 

 to the ramal groove. The muscles of the opposite sides approach and freely inter- 



