346 CLASS REPTILIA. 



near the heart being moderately blown, is about five inches 

 and a half in circumference : a little lower, for the space of 

 about four inches, the cells gradually disappear, so that they 

 seem at last to form only a reticular compages of valviilcB 

 conniventes in the inside of the membrane of the lungs : 

 the greatest circumference here is about six inches ; the re- 

 maining part of the organ is merely a large bladder, without 

 any cellular subdivisions, and consists of a strong transpa- 

 rent membrane, the circumference of which, when inflated, 

 is about eight inches and a half. The lungs in the water- 

 newt, and some other animals, are divided into two large 

 lobes, or simple bladders, without cellular subdivisions; 

 in the frogs, crocodiles, &c. of two large lobes, with cellular 

 divisions ; while in the rattle-snake, viper, &c. both these kinds 

 of structure are comprised, the fore-part of the organ being 

 filled with numerous intestinal vesicular subdivisions, while 

 the remaining part is mere lengthened bladder. 



" The oesophagus, or gullet, was two feet three inches in 

 length, and marked by two distinct swellings or enlarge- 

 ments of very great size, so as to represent two preparatory 

 stomachs as it were ; nor was the real or proper stomach 

 capable of so much distension as these ; the length of the 

 true stomach, or third enlargement, was nearly similar to that 

 of the second enlargement of the oesophagus ; it was much 

 thicker than that part, and resembled, in its fabric, that of 

 the viper. From the pylorus the duct straitened again for 

 about half an inch, and then formed a large intestine, the 

 weaved rugae of its external coat presenting a curious and 

 pleasing spectacle. This intestine, after some small wind- 

 ings, terminated in the rectum, which was of much smaller 

 diameter. In the promiscuous food which serpents take in, 

 which they always swallow whole, and in which there are 

 always some parts unfit for digestion, and which must there- 

 fore be returned, the oesophagus here being very long, nature 



