512 THE RABBIT CHAP, xi 



the saliva before passing down the gullet, and thus 

 digestion begins in the mouth. 



The infra-orbital salivary gland is a large, tabulated pinkish 

 mass situated in the antero- ventral region of the orbit, below 

 and in front of the eyeball : its duct passes downwards to 

 open into the mouth nearly opposite and externally to the 

 second premolar. The parotid gland is a soft, irregular, 

 flattened organ, lying close beneath the skin, just below and 

 in front of the base of the external ear ; its duct passes 

 forward and opens close to the duct of the infra-orbital 

 gland. The sub-maxillary gland (Fig. 135, 5. mx. gl) is a 

 reddish, ovoid, compact body situated inside the angle of the 

 lower jaw and near the middle line, somewhat anterior to 

 the larynx : its duct runs forward to open into the mouth a 

 short distance behind the lower incisors. The sublingual 

 gland (si. gl) is an elongated structure situated on the inner 

 side of the mandible, and having several ducts opening 

 independently into the mouth. 



The oral cavity is continued backwards as the pharynx 

 (ph) : this begins at the velum palati, above which it 

 extends forwards as the naso-pharynx (n. ph} ; the latter 

 is continuous with the passage of the internal nostrils, 

 and into it open the Eustachian tubes (eus, compare 

 pp. 17 and 45). On the floor of the pharynx, behind 

 the base of the tongue, is the glottis, which leads into 

 the larynx and is guarded in front by an elastic, 

 leaf-like, cartilaginous flap, the epiglottis (epg) : this 

 projects upwards towards the velum palati and is 

 capable of being pressed backwards over the glottis 

 during the passage of food from the mouth to the gullet. 



The gullet (Figs. 135 and 137, ozs] is a narrow but 

 dilatable tube which passes backwards along the neck 

 and through the thorax, entering the abdomen through 

 an aperture in the diaphragm and then opening into the 

 stomach (py. st, cd. st), a wide, curved sac, elongated 

 transversely and greatly dilated at the cardiac end, which 

 lies towards the left side of the body : the pyloric end, 

 from which the duodenum arises, towards the animal's 



