ON THE ANATOMY OF THE AFRICAN ELEPHANT. 49 



from near the papilla of Wharton's duct towards the tip, where it P. Z. S. 1879, 

 becomes obsolete, is a slightly raised longitudinal line. Below this are p * * 

 the openings of a considerable number of small glands, situated, 

 apparently, in the substance of the tongue itself. Above and behind 



Fig. 1. 



W.D. M.O. 



Tongue of the African Elephant (reduced). 



W.D. Wharton's duct. M.O. Mayer's organ. 



this line are scattered about a few fungiform papillae; but these get 

 smaller, and ultimately disappear, towards the middle line, and extend 

 but a small distance backwards over the sides of the tongue. 



In a line with, and continued back from, this raised line, a single 

 series of rather conspicuous, elevated papillae, apparently of a glandular 

 nature, is seen. These are continuous behind with " Mayer's organ " *, 

 a series of vertical slit-like depressions, the larger of which are each 

 provided with a pair of glandular papillae, probably connected with 

 mucous glands in the substance of the tongue. I counted about thirty- 

 three slits in this organ, which extends backwards on the sides of the 

 tongue for 5^ inches, till within about an inch of the circumvallate 

 papillae. The slits are largest and deepest, and have their glands 

 proportionately larger, a little before the end of the organ : the longest 

 slit is | inch long. In the anterior part of the organ the papillae of the 

 sides of the tongue stand on the ridges between the slits; but more 

 posteriorly this arrangement disappears. The circumvallate papillae are 

 situated near the back of the tongue, and nearer the middle line than the 

 glands and papillae just described. On the right side there are four, on 

 the left three, with indications of a fourth. The posterior ones are 

 considerably the larger (f inch in diameter). The tongue is rounded off 

 and considerably narrowed behind the circumvallate papillae. In the 

 walls of the pharynx in this region are a few irregular, raised, glandular 

 patches, which attain a considerable size in the middle line. 



* So called in honour of its discoverer, Dr. C. Mayer (cf. Nov. Act. Acad. C. L. 

 vol. xx. p. 746). 



E 



