71 



a uniform smooth convex surface towards the diaphragm ; and they 

 are so grouped together that the usual larger divisions or lobes are di- 

 stinctly recognisable. The number of these may be reckoned five ; 

 the first on the right side is the smallest, and projects in the situation 

 of the lobulus Spigelii. The gall-bladder is situated as above de- 

 scribed between the third and fourth lobes, having an entire invest- 

 ment of peritoneum. The coronary ligament is attached to tha fourth 

 lobe ; it does not extend to the sternal margin of the lobe, nor does 

 it dip down into a deep cleft, but the lobules closely adhere to it as 

 soon as it reaches the surface of the viscus : the trace of the oblite- 

 rated umbilical vein was very slight. The lobules, though closely in 

 contact, are quite detached from each other, being appended, as it 

 were, by their apices to the larger branches of the vena portce and he- 

 patic arteries and veins. Each of the lobules is partially subdivided 

 into still smaller lobules, the whole structure approximating to a 

 complete natural unravelling of this conglomerate gland to its com- 

 ponent acini. 



"The gall-bladder is about the size of a pigeon's e^^; its contents 

 were limpid and of a greyish green colour, and had not stained the 

 surrounding parts. This departure from the usual colour and con- 

 sistency of the bile might have led to the idea that it was connected 

 in some way with the peculiar structure of the secretory organ just 

 described ; but I hadpreviously noted a limpid and almost colourless 

 state of the bile in some other Glires, viz. the Guinea Pig, the Acou' 

 chy, and the crested Porcupine, which had a small gall-bladder, and 

 in none of which did the liver deviate from the ordinary configuration. 

 Mr. Say, who described and very correctly figured the peculiar liver 

 of Capromys, makes no observation on the bile. The cystic duct in 

 the present instance was joined by the hepatic duct at an acute angle 

 after the course of an inch j the ductus choledochus terminated di- 

 stinctly from the pancreatic at the upper part of the duodenum lying 

 upon the gut, and becoming a little larger and making a bend at a 

 right angle near its termination. 



"The pancreas consists of two parts, one more compacted extend- 

 ing behind the stomach from the spleen ; the other thin and ramified 

 in the duodenal mesentery. 



" The spleen is loosely attached to the left end of the stomach, of 

 an elongated trihedral form, 2^ inches in length, and 8 lines across 

 at the lower extremity, which is the broadest part. 



" The kidneys are of a simple form and structure, having a single 

 papilla in each, which is broad and projecting : the pelvis is small. 

 On injecting them with size and vermilion, the former substance 

 passed through the tubuli uriniferi into the pelvis, the colouring 

 matter stopping at a line's distance from the termination of the tubes. 

 Their shape being more globular than in Man, they were more promi- 

 nently situated in the lumbar regions, and had a greater investment 

 of peritoneum. The right kidney was higher than the left by its 

 whole length; in the Acouchy, Agouti, and Pat, there is less difi'erence 

 in the relative height of these glands. The supra-renal glands are of 



