1867.] DR. H. BURMEISTER ON PONTOPORIA BLAINVILLII. 48/ 



tirely attached to the cartilaginous carpus. It has only a short car- 

 tilaginous tip on the other end. The four following fingers have all 

 a large cartilaginous articulated axis, which includes in the first or 

 second articulation an ossified nucleus. The second finger has six, 

 the third five, the fourth three, and the fifth two articulations, the 

 last of all being only a thin conical prolongation. A similar carti- 

 laginous conical piece is situated between the third and fourth fingers, 

 in the substance of the fin near the exterior margin. 



Of the posterior members I have found only the usual small pelvic 

 bones, situated on each side of the anal cleft. 



From the fortunate circumstance that some parts of the viscera 

 were preserved in a dry state in the interior of the body, I had the 

 good fortune to be able to examine the larynx with the trachea, and 

 the oesophagus with the stomach. I found in one of these parts a 

 curious peculiarity, which I will explain by the aid of the annexed 

 figure, of two-thirds the natural size. 



The larynx (fig. 2, p. 488), which has the usual prolonged conical 

 form above (a), is very large below, the thyroid cartilage (b) being 

 extended on each side to a distant arch, which is united behind by 

 articulation with the cricoid cartilage (e). Beyond this cartilage 

 the trachea begins as a large channel or tube, which is surrounded 

 by three or four spiral cartilaginous rhigs of the construction usual 

 in all Cetaceans {d). Then it divides into three branches of unequal 

 size — two superior smaller, and one inferior wider. Of the two supe- 

 rior the left (e) is somewhat wider than the right (/), but of the 

 same construction as the commencing trunk and the central branch 

 of the trachea, and perhaps also of the same length ; but both 

 branches were cut away in the specimen examined, the left being 

 1^ inch long and the right only 1 inch. The longer, middle branch 

 (ff) was preserved to the end, and had a length of 3 inches, then it 

 divided into two branches, of which the left (A) is also somewhat 

 wider than the right {/c). There is no doubt that these branches 

 represent the two bronchi of the other air-respiring vertebrata ; but 

 it is curious that the difference in size is much greater than is usually 

 the case. I could follow both bronchi to their end, where they pass 

 into the cellular texture of the lung and lose their cartilaginous rings. 

 The right bronchus was shorter than the left, as well as narrower. 



It would be very interesting to know whether the lungs are also 

 divided into four parts, or only into two as is the rule ; but having 

 found no trace of this organ in the dry body I can say nothing of its 

 form. 



Of the other viscera, I have found in sufficiently good state of pre- 

 servation the oesophagus and the stomach. The first is 6 inches long, 

 a large channel without any peculiarity ; but the second has also its 

 peculiar configuration. It is formed by a great oviform sac, which 

 is extended at both ends into a perpendicular pouch. The pouch of 

 the left side, near the entrance of the oesophagus, is of the size of a 

 pigeon's egg, but not very strongly separated from the central sac. 

 The internal surface is somewhat rugulous, but the wrinkles are very 

 fine and irregularly disposed. The central sac has a length of 



