294 STOMACHS OF THE SHEEP. 



THE STOMACHS. 



a," The esophagus or gullet, entering the rumen or paunch. 



6, ft. The rumen, or paunch, occupying three-fourths of the abdomen. 



c, The reticulum, or honey-comb the 2d stomach. 



d, The maniplus, or many folds the 3d stomach. 

 , The abomasum, or 4th stomach. 



/, The commencement of the duodenum or first intestine. 



ff, The place of the pylorus, a valve which separates the contents of the aboma- 

 sum and duodenum. 



"The walls of the rumen or paunch consist of four coats or 

 tunics 1st, The peritoneal or outer coat; 2d, The muscular; 

 3d, The mucous, covered with papillae, or little protuberances, 

 from which (or glands under which) is secreted a peculiar 

 fluid to soften and prepare the food for re-mastication ; and, 

 4th, The inner or cuticular coat, a thin, entirely insensible 

 membrane, which defends the mucous coat from abrasion or 

 erosion." 



