Chap. II.] 



HABITS WHEN WILD. 



315 



nature, Dr. Harrisox found it dilGcult to pronounce as 

 to the use of tliis very peculiar structure ; but looking 

 to the intimate connection between the mechanism con- 

 cerned in the functions of respkation and deglutition, 



The Trachea drawn 

 over, bringing into 

 view its jiostcri >r 

 surface at the bifur- 

 cation 



Pnpumogastnr 



Nerves . 



Diaphragm 



CEsophagus. 



The Trachea. CEso- 

 phugeal Muscle. 



Elastic Tissue con- 

 necting Trachea 

 Bronchi, Qisopha- 

 piis, and Trachoa- 

 CEsnphagealMuscle 

 to the Diaphragm. 



and seeing tliat the proboscis served in a double capacity 

 as an instrument of voice and an organ for the pre- 

 hension of food, he ventured (apparently Avithout ad- 

 verting to the abnormal form of the stomach) to express 

 the opinion that this muscle, \T.ewing its attachment to 

 the trachea, might either have some influence in raising 

 the diaphragm, and thereby assisting in expiration, " or 

 that it might raise the cardiac orifice of the stomachy and 

 so aid this organ to regurgitate a portion of its contents 

 into the (Esophagus."^ 



Dr. Harrison, on the reflection that "we have no 

 satisfactory evidence that the animal ever ruminates," 

 thought it useless to speculate on the latter supposition 

 as to the action of the newly discovered muscle, and 

 rather inchned to the surmise that it was desi^-ned to 

 assist the elephant in producing the remarkable sound 



' Proceed. Roy. Irish Acad., vol. iv. p. 133. 



