177 



as noticed by Mr. Owen in the Capromys ; and a transverse ridge se- 

 parated the entrance of the bladder from the orifices of the vasa de- 

 ferentia and vesiculae seminales. Below this ridge was a small conical 

 body, at the apex of which opened the vasa deferentia, and on the 

 sides the vesiculce seminales. The latter, when opened, were found 

 filled with a white hard curdy matter having some resemblance to 

 the roe of fishes. This substance filled a great portion of the ure- 

 thra also. 



" The prostate gland appeared like accessory vesiculce, and was 

 closely united to the base of those bodies : it was divided into two 

 large lobes, each of which was found to be composed of a number 

 of blind tubes or elongated cells, united into a mass by cellular mem- 

 brane. They were easily unravelled into a tuft of long fringes, each 

 tube being -i of an inch in length. These tubes all concentrated in 

 a small spot, where they opened by a few minute orifices into the 

 urethra at the base of the little conical elevation before alluded to. 



' ' The distance from the prostate to the base of the bulb of the 

 urethra was I4 inch. 



" The membranous part of the urethra was closely embraced by a 

 layer of muscular fibres : the acceleratores urince investing the bulb 

 were large and strong : the erectores were fleshy ; they embraced the 

 crura penis. On each side of the bulb, external to the accelerator 

 urince, lay a gland as large as a filbert, whence proceeded a tube of 

 the diameter of a crow-qmll, which passing beneath the accelerator 

 entered the bulb of the urethra above its centre. The length of this 

 duct was 1 inch. These glands are, I suppose, to be considered as 

 the glandulee ante-prostates, or Cowper's glands. 



" At the extremity of the rectum on its abdominal aspect was si- 

 tuated a large glandular sac of the size of a walnut filled with in- 

 odorous creamy matter ; its excretory orifice was just within the 

 anal opening. This sac was invested with a tunic of muscular fibres 

 continued from the sphincter and levator ani. 



" The tongue was acuminate and 3 inches in length, its surface 

 covered with small retroverted shining velvety papillee ; two large 

 distinct papillee of an oval form appearing at the base. The free part 

 of the tongue, that is from the frcenum to the apex, was -f of an inch. 

 The basal portion of the dorsum was elevated, but not so abruptly 

 as in some Rodents ; the disc, however, was sufficiently marked. 



" The fauces were found to form a funnel-shaped cavity with nei- 

 ther tonsils nor palate arches ; but the soft palate was continuous to 

 the posterior aperture, which barely admitted the entrance of a com- 

 mon quill. The posterior nares were continued like a fimnel beyond 

 this posterior orifice of the fauces, and received into their aperture 

 the glottis, epiglottis, and arytenoid cartilages, so that the margin 

 of the orifice of the fauces lay in contact with the dorsum of the 

 tongue anterior to the epiglottis, which rose behind it, and which it 

 was evident could not be brought at all under the soft palate ; hence 

 respiration and every vocal intonation must proceed through the 

 nostrils. 



"The epiglottis was broad basally, but not elevated; it assumed 



