326 Mr. Holbertoii on the Anatomy of Testudo tabulata. 



sometimes, when examined through the peritoneal coat, to take a longi- 

 tudinal course, yet on removing this coat, circular fibres were instantly 

 exposed. The same observation held good with the oesophagus and in- 

 testines. I will not say that no longitudinal fibres existed ; but I was 

 unable to demonstrate them. The oesophagus was lined with a strong 

 mucous membrane, studded with small mucous follicles, but not fur- 

 nished with processes as in the turtle. The tongue, as Blumenbach has 

 described, was " thickly covered with long fibrous papillcs on its anterior 

 " surface." The ilio-colic valve was not a projecting fold of the inner 

 membrane, as Carus describes it to be, but a mere thickening of 

 the muscular coat, the calibre of the intestine being diminished at this 

 point, and resembling the valve at the pylorus. There was no trace of 

 appendix cceci. The intestines were five times the length of the shell. 



The neck was seen projecting into the abdomen on the removal of the 

 liver. There were seven cervical vertehree; the two last placed at right 

 angles to the dorsal, thus forming a strong point of attachment for the 

 tendinous diaphragm. In the neck greater extent of flexion and exten- 

 sion was allowed between the sixth and seventh cervical vertehrcp, and 

 to the latter on the first of the dorsal class. The last cervical was the 

 smallest of this set. The muscles peculiar to the neck were two pair and 

 a single one, and are as follow. A pair of strong muscles, arising from 

 either side of the bodies of the two or three last dorsal vertebrce, and from 

 the lumbar, passed upwards to be inserted into the sides of all the cervical 

 vertebra. A large extensor arising from the first dorsal vertebra was in- 

 serted into the upper part of the bodies of all the cervical. This is de- 

 scribed by Blumenbach. Two smaller and more superficial muscles, 

 arising from the anterior edge of the dorsal shell, ran underneath the skin 

 to the sides and upper part of the anterior cervical vertebra?. 



The lungs extended from the dorsal and lumbar vertebrce to the part 

 common to the abdominal and dorsal shell ; anteriorly filling the space 

 between the third and fourth lower cervical vertebrce and the muscles of 

 the anterior extremities, and posteriorly reaching to the pelvis. They 

 were in contact along the spine when distended, but did not communicate 

 with each other. The singular vesicular appearance of the air cells needs 

 no description. The trachea took a tortuous course ; resting first on the 

 fore part of the neck, it passed obliquely to the right side, then to the left as 



