STOMACHS OF RUMINANTS. 173 



marked by the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, respectively, in 

 the order in which they occur when traced from the 

 oesophagus (c) to the intestine (f). 



The grass which is devoured in large quantities 

 by these animals, and which undergoes but little 

 mastication in the mouth, is hastily swallowed, and 

 is received into a capacious reservoir, (marked 1 in 

 the figure) called the paunch. This cavity is lined 

 internally with a thick membrane, beset with nu- 

 merous flattened papillge, and is often divided into 

 pouches by transverse contractions. While the food 

 remains in this bag, it continues in rather a dry 

 state ; but the moisture with which it is surrounded 

 contributes to soften it, and to prepare it for a 

 second mastication ; which is effected in the fol- 

 lowing manner. Connected with the paunch is 

 another, but much smaller sac (2), which is consi- 

 dered as the second stomach ; and, from its internal 

 membrane being thrown into numerous irregular 

 folds, forming the sides of polygonal cells, it has 

 been called the honeycomb stomach, or reticule. 

 Fig. 313 exhibits the reticulated appearance of the 

 inner surface of this cavity. A singular connexion 

 exists between this stomach and the preceding ; for 

 while the oesophagus appears to open naturally into 

 the paunch, 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 readily pass from the oesophagus into either of 

 these cavities, according as the orifice of the one or 

 the other is open to receive it. 



It would appear from the observations of Sir E. 

 Home, that liquids drunk by the animal pass at 



