THE GREAT ANTEATER. 12] 
One common duplicature of peritoneum, continued from the middle of the back 
part of the abdomen, and eighteen inches in extent where it is broadest, at the 
junction of the ileum with the colon, supports the whole intestinal canal, as in most 
reptiles,—mesentery, mesocolon and mesorectum being one and the same fold: the 
shorter diameter of this fold is from eight to ten inches. The mesenteric part is 
puckered to support the convolutions of the small intestines. A mesenteric gland of a 
dark colour is continued along the base-line of these plicz for the extent of sixteen 
inches, beginning at the duodenal end of the pancreas and ending with the ileum. 
Parallel with this, on what may be regarded as the base-line of the mesocolon, are a 
number of detached glands of the same dark colour, and flattened, like the long 
mesenteric gland, but of a subcircular form, and from three lines to twelve lines in 
diameter. The mesenteric artery forms one series of arches, with their convexity at 
from six to twelve lines distance from the gut. The mesocolic vessels form also one 
series of arches, which are close to the gut. 
The duodenum, arching round the head of the pancreas, is suspended on the beginning 
of the mesentery, where it is from two to three inches broad ; and it is continued into 
the jejunum without being tied by a contraction of the mesentery to the back of the 
abdomen, as in most Mammalia. The right lobe of the liver is suspended to the dome 
of the diaphragm by a right coronary ligament, and a duplicature of peritoneum con- 
nects the extremity of that hepatic lobe to the upper part of the right kidney. There 
is also a left coronary ligament: a fold of peritoneum two inches broad connects the 
left lobe of the liver with the stomach at the fore part of the cardia ; and a more posterior 
fold connects the left lobe of the liver to the left suprarenal body and left kidney. The 
peritoneum passes over the under surface (sternal aspect) of the kidneys, and over 
the same part of the right suprarenal body: it affords a more entire covering to the left 
suprarenal body. The peritoneal folds called ‘ broad ligaments’ begin to be reflected 
from the front of the lower ends of the kidneys, converging to sustain the ovaria and 
enclose the ovarian ligaments, fallopian tubes, uterus, and ureters. The urinary bladder 
was empty and corrugated: the urachal fold, reflected from the middle of its fore part 
to near the fundus, expands as it extends to the lower part of the linea alba, terminating 
above at the obliterated umbilicus which is situated six inches above the symphysis 
pubis. A flat glandular body about the size of an almond was situated in the urachal 
fold: it might be the debris of part of an umbilical sac. ‘Two narrow ureteral folds of 
peritoneum diverge from the back part of the urinary bladder to the broad liga- 
ments. 
The length of the female from the muzzle to the vent was four feet seven inches ; the 
length of the head was fourteen inches ; that of the tail thirty-three inches. The total 
length of the intestinal canal was thirty-four feet ; the small intestines measuring thirty 
feet in length. The ileum dilates rapidly into the colon, which commences without any 
cecal projection. The greatest circumference of the duodenum is two and a half inches : 
VOL. IV.—PART IV. T 
