8 



its extension, has no existence : the only modifications of the vas- 

 cular system worthy of notice were the large size and slight plexiform 

 arrangement of the lingual veins at the under part of the base of the 

 tongue. The inner surface of the lips, especially where they 

 join to form the angles of the mouth, was beset with numerous 

 close-set, strong, retroverted and pointed papilla, similar to those 

 distributed over the interior of the gullet in the Chelonice ; a struc- 

 ture which is also present in other Ruminants. 



The palate was beset with about sixteen irregular transverse 

 ridges, having a free denticulate edge directed backwards ; an appa- 

 ratus for detaining the food, and insuring its deglutition, which Mr. 

 Owen notices as especially required in the Giraffe, by reason of the 

 small comparative size of its head and jaws : he also refers to the 

 mechanical obstacles, which oppose the escape of the food when re- 

 gurgitated, in the Ruminantia generally, as the presence of buccal 

 papillcE, &c. as an evidence on which to found an argument of spe- 

 cial adaptation or design. This structure is noticed by Cuvier, but 

 considered by him as only coexistent with the occurrence of papilla 

 upon the lining membrane of the stomach, and as a condition of 

 parts which furnishes no obvious indication of any connexion with 

 final causes ; with a view of showing that no such relation of coex- 

 istence as that imagined by Cuvier, in the presence of papilla upon 

 different portions of the alimentary canal, can be positively esta- 

 blished, Mr. Owen instances the Turtle, which has these callous 

 bodies in great abundance, but entirely restricted to the lining mem- 

 brane of the wsopkagus, in which situation their use is sufficiently 

 apparent. 



The cesophagus in size was found to be very regular and uniform 

 throughout its entire length, being about an inch and three quarters 

 in diameter, and surrounded with two strong layers of muscular 

 fibres ; the fibres being thickest, and arranged transversely in the 

 external layers ; those of the internal being oblique, with an approach 

 towards a longitudinal disposition. These fibres on being examined 

 with the microscope and compared with those of the stomach, were 

 found by Mr. Owen to present a structure which he regards as inter- 

 mediate between that which characterizes voluntary and involuntary 

 muscular fibre ; their ultimate filaments being aggregated into regular 

 sized ultimate fascicles having a parallel disposition, and thus so far 

 agreeing with the fibres of the voluntary muscles, but at the same 

 time exhibiting an important structural difference in the total ab- 

 sence of transverse stria ; the fascicles in fact being perfectly smooth 

 and substransparent. 



The mucous membrane of the asophagus was thick and firm, 

 lined by a well-developed smooth epithelium, and connected to the 

 muscular coat by a very lax cellular membrane. 



As regards the position of the abdominal viscera in the female, 

 the paunch occupied the ventral aspect of the anterior two-thirds of 

 the short abdominal cavity, resting immediately upon the abdominal 

 muscles and their strong e\ss.tic fascia. The great omentum which was 

 studded reticularly with fat, as in the Ruminants generally, extended 



