1883. J TONGUES OF THE MARSUPIALS. 609 



The coronate papillae are generally circular and vcvy large (about 

 five to the square millimetre) ; they are not closely packed as in the 

 region to be next described. The posterior side can be recognized 

 by the same character that it presents in the nnpillje of the tip. 

 There are generally 6-8 secondary papillae in the anterior horse- 

 shoe ; the arrangement is occasionally irregular. 



Between the anterior circumvallate papillae there are no isolated 

 hair-like papillae. The coronate papillae possess very complete 

 rings of secondary papillae (13-17 are the common numbers, and 17 

 is not at all uncommon). The rings are very symmetrical, and the 

 posterior side is not much marked, though generally recognizable by 

 the higher level at wiiich the secondary papillae arise. 



The coronate papillae are generally circular and are very closely 

 packed (about seven to the square millimetre). In one section 

 the papillae were about "375 mm. in diameter, and the spaces 

 between them from •075-'025 in width, and most frequently the 

 latter. Longitudinal vertical sections show that the coronate papillae 

 in this region are beautiful and tall, with their hair-like papillae 

 slightly recurved at the tip (see fig. xxvi. X 14'.5, Plate LV., which 

 shows one of these papillae in perspective). They are over 2 mm. in 

 height (from the top of a perfect secondary papilla to the surface of 

 the superficial epithehum of the tongue). The upper cells of the 

 main papilla stain deeply like those of Perameles and many other 

 Marsupials. 



B. The Filiform Papillce. — Probably normal in structure, but no 

 minute investigation was possible. 



Thus this tongue decidedly follows the type of Ralmaturus, 

 but it shows an advance in all the points which the two have in 

 common. 



The Tongue of Petrogale xanthopus. 



I have recently received a fresh specimen of this tongue, so that 

 I am able to add a general description. The whole tongue is 

 strikingly similar to Mo.cropns, and, like it, follows the type of 

 Hahnaturus. The circum.vallate papillae are arranged in a similar 

 triangle (the posterior angle being very obtuse), and nothing can 

 be ^een from the surface except the orifices of the involutions. The 

 posterior papilla appears to be rather different from the anterior, the 

 entrance being extremely small (probably contracted), and lies in the 

 centre of a raised subcircular area, of which the surface is smooth. 

 The anterior openings are larger (probably less contracted), and the 

 raised area is less distinct. Tiie fungiform papillae are arranged as 

 in Macropiis, along the sides and tip, where some of them are larger ; 

 a few are scattered on the upper surface, and these may also be 

 present in Macroptis in the fresh state. The lateral organ is not 

 arranged in the segment of a circle (as in Macropits), but apparently 

 forms an irregular line of openings which are not raised upon 

 elevations. The line is of considerable length, and the depressions 

 are separated by more than the usual interval. The openings were 

 very contracted, and could hardly be made out on the left side. No 



