116 ANIMAL FUNCTIONS. 



represents the stomach of a sheep, of which. 1, 2, 3, 4, 

 mark the four divisions, c, being the esophagus, and P the 

 pylorus. 



337. The grass, which is taken in large quantities by 

 the animals, and swallowed in nearly a dry state, and with 

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

 room, number 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 sec- 

 ond stomach, number 2, which is much smaller ; and from 

 its internal membrane being formed into irregular folds, 

 resembling a network, it is called the honeycomb stomach, 

 or reticule. 



338. This reticulated appear- Fig- 81 

 ance is shown by Fig. 81, which 



represents a portion of the inner 

 membrane of this part. 



339. A singular and curious 

 connexion exists between this stom- 

 ach and the first ; for while the 

 esophagus appears naturally to open 



into number 1, there is on each side of its termination a 

 muscular ridge, which projects from the orifice of the lat- 

 ter, 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, iuto either of these cavities. The 

 design of this arrangement we shall see directly. 



340. 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 opened and closed 

 at will, or by a natural motion, depending on the irritative 

 effects of the grass or water. 



341. After ihe 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- 

 3ular 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- 



