120 



ANIMAL FUNCTIONS. 



sents the stomach of a sheep, of which 1, 2, 3, 4, mark 

 the four divisions, c, being the esophagus, and JD, the 

 pylorus. 



The grass which is taken in large quantities by these 

 animals and swallowed in nearly a dry state, and with 

 little chewing, is first received into the large sac, or 

 store room, No. 1, which we may call the first stomach. 

 Here it is softened by the warmth of the animal, and a 

 slight degree of moisture. Connected with this is the 

 second stomach, No. 2, which is much smaller ; and 

 from its internal membrane being formed into irregular 

 folds, resembling a net-work,- it is called the honey- 

 comb stomach or reticule. 



p. This reticulated appearance is 



shown by Fig. 81, which repre- 

 sents a portion of the inner mem- 

 s brane of this part. 

 L A singular and curious connec- 

 tion exists between this stomach 

 and the first ; for while the eso- 

 phagus appears naturally to open 

 into No. 1, there is on each side of its termination a 

 muscular ridge, which projects from the orifice of the 

 latter, so that the two together form a channel leading 

 into the second stomach ; and thus, the food can pass, 

 probably, at the will of the animal, into either of these 

 cavities. The design of this arrangement we shall see 

 directly. 



From the observations of Sir Everard Home, it 

 appears that the water drank by the animal passes 

 directly into the second cavity, while the grass always 

 enters the first ; these apertures must therefore be open- 

 ed and closed at will, or by a natural motion, depending 

 on the irritative effects of the grass or water. 



After the large sac is well filled, the animal goes to 

 rest, generally lying on the ground, when the grass is 

 transferred by small portions at a time into the reticula- 

 ted stomach, where it is moistened, and then by the mus- 

 cular action of the part, rolled up into a ball, and by an 

 inverted action of the esophagus thrown up into the 

 mouth, where it is masticated at leisure, the whole form- 



