®4 CATTLE. 



is much contracted, and which, indeed, partly discharges the function 

 of a sphincter muscle. 



^ is a portion of the duodenum, or first intestine. 



h. The place -where the biliary and pancreatic ducts enter the 

 duodenum. 



i. A stilett is here supposed to be passed through that portion of 

 the oesophagean canal (the very beginning of it) through which the 

 gullet communicates with the paunch. 



k. A stilett is here supposed to run through that part of tht, 

 canal by means of which the gullet communicates with the second 

 stomach, 



I. A stilett here passes below the last, and under the oesophagean 

 canal, showing the situation of the direct communication between the 

 rumen and the reticulum. 



m. The supposed direction of the oesophagean canal to the third 

 stomach, over the roofs of the paunch and the second stomach. 



n. Its passage through the third stomach, and entrance into the 

 fourth. 



THE CHANGES OF THE FOOD IN THE DIFFERENT STOMACHS. 



The OX rapidly and somewhat greedily crops the herbage, which 

 undergoes little or no mastication, but being rolled into a pellet, and 

 as it passes along the pharynx being somewhat enveloped by the 

 mucus there secreted, is swallowed. The pellet, being hard and 

 rapidly driven along by the action of the muscles of the oesophagus-, 

 falls upon the anterior portion of the oesoph igean canal, and its 

 curiously formed floor ; and either by the force with which it strikes 

 on these pillars, or by some instinctive influence, they are separated, 

 and the pellet falls into the rumen, which is found immediately under 

 the base of the gullet, as represented at c, p. 288, and /, p. 291. 

 The food, however, which thus enters the rumen does not remain 

 stationary in the place where it falls. It has been seen that the walls 

 of this stomach are supplied with muscles of considerable power, and 

 which run longitudinally and transversely, and in various directions 

 all over it, and by means of them the contents of the paunch are 

 gradually conveyed through all its compartments. At first the food 

 travels with comparative rapidity, for the muscles of the stomach act 

 strongly, and the papillae with which it is lined easily yield and suffer 

 it to pass on ; but, the rumen being filled, or the animal ceasing to 

 graze, the progress of the food is retarded. The muscles act with less 

 power, and the contents of the stomach with greater difficulty find 

 their way over the partitions of the different sacs, and, at the same 

 time, probably, the papillae exert their erectile power, and oppose a 

 new obstacle. 



If a considerable opening b" 'ut into the flank; immediately over the 



