DR. J. MURIE ON THE ANATOMY OF THE SEA-LION. 559 
both the right and left hypochondriac regions, was not seen to descend or come poste- 
riorly further than the ensiform cartilage. This viscus was equally divided into right 
and left moieties by the falciform ligament and the remains of the foetal vessels. The 
stomach was barely visible, being situated deeply in the left hypochondriac region, 
and almost entirely hidden by the liver. The great omentum, in the present instance 
perfectly devoid of fat, thin and quite transparent, did not, as is most commonly the 
case in Carnivora, cover the intestines, but was partially sunk among the folds of 
the gut. Nearly the whole visible contents of the abdomen seemed to be occupied 
by the small intestines ; only a small portion of the rectum peered out behind them 
and towards the right iliac region. ‘The empty and contracted urinary bladder extended 
forwards no great distance beyond the symphysis pubis. The cecum, firmly attached 
to the mesentery, lay towards the right side of the spine and between the ensiform 
cartilage and pubes, being rather towards the former. From the cecum the great 
intestine runs backwards to the iliac region, forms a loop and returns forwards again ; 
then, with only a partial transverse fold, reaches the left of the spine, lying at this part 
behind the unusually loose kidney. Above the superior fundus of the bladder its rectal 
fold directs itself towards the median line, and passes into the pelvis, at first rather to 
the right side of the bladder. 
Fig. 5. 
Reduced sketch of the position of the abdominal viscera, as 
seen when opened. 
e.c. Ensiform cartilage. L. Liver. 6.1. The broad liga- 
ment. B. Urinary bladder. 
{Compare with corresponding view in the Walrus, Trans. 
Zool. Soe. vol. vii. pl. 55. fig. 20.] 
b. The Hsophaqus.—Taking this wide tube as commencing at the lower border of the 
inferior constrictor muscle, it measures from this to the cardiac orifice of the stomach 
224 inches in length. In the contracted condition its mucous membrane is tough and 
elastic, and thrown into very numerous interlacing and strongly ridged, pale-coloured, 
longitudinal plice. The submucous areolar tissue is plentiful, and the muscular coat 
very strong and thick. 
4n2 
