1883.] TONGUES OF THE MARSUPIALS. 611 



be much modified by sections. The tongue is typically Marsupial 

 in the possession of coronate papillae, &c. 



The Tongue of Phalangista vulpina. 



I was fortunate enough to obtain two specimens of this organ — 

 the back part of one (given me by Professor Moseley) and a fresh 

 and complete tongue taken from an animal which I procured last 

 Easter (1883). The back part of the tongue had been hardened in 

 chromic acid and afterwards in spirit, while the whole tongue was 

 hardened in a gradually strengthened mixture of chromic acid and 

 spirit, the hardening being completed in spirit. 



General description. — The back part of the tongue (Professor 

 Moseley' s) as seen from above is shown in fig. viii. Plate LIV. 

 (natural size), and from the right side in fig. ix. Plate LIV. (natural 

 size). The posterior circumvallate papilla is seen to be large and 

 radially symmetrical ; it is not highly protected (as in Halmaturus 

 &c.), and exposes a large circular disk (its summit) to a surface view, 

 as in the higher mammals ; it is situated far back from the 

 anterior papillae so that the posterior angle is acute. The anterior 

 papillae are smaller, concealed from view (except their apices), 

 bilaterally symmetrical, and directed forwards as in Halmaturus 

 &c. There is a well-developed lateral organ visible from above and 

 from the sides (shown in both figures) ; it presents a great advance 

 upon the same structure in Halmaturus, and yet even here the 

 attention is solely directed to the slit-like depressions as the only 

 essential organ. In the highest form of lateral organ (as in 

 some Rodents) the surface between and around the slits undergoes 

 modification, producing a foliate papilla in which the attention is 

 directed to the lamellae or ridges with bulbs on their sides, the 

 intervening furrows appearing quite subordinate as merely the 

 necessary spaces between the ridges. However, in such a tougue 

 as tliat of Phalangista it is seen that the furrows are primary and 

 the development of the ridges quite secondary. Many of the 

 higher animals have the same simple type of lateral organ. The 

 fungiform papillae occur along the sides and probably on the upper 

 surface. The filiform papillae have the usual distribution ; they 

 are pointed, and very frequently of the triangular fiap-like shape. 

 Sometimes a papilla of the latter shape divides into two or three 

 secondary papillae. The whole surface is densely covered with 

 coronate papillae. The complete tongue enabled me to ascertain the 

 true size : — length G3 mm. from the tip to the epiglottis ; width at 

 the level of the anterior circumvallate papillae 18*25 mm. The lip 

 had a rounded margin ; the median ridge and grooves as usual. The 

 free part of the tongue was 2\'b mm. in length. 



Minute Structure. — I. Gustatory Structures. 



A . The Circumvallate Papillce. — The posterior papillae were radially 

 symmetrical and the anterior bilaterally symmetrical. The posterior 

 and anterior papillae of the complete tougue are shown in figs. xx. and 



