782 



MR. D. G. LILLIE OX THE AXATUMY 



[May 24, 



situated in tlie middle of the pharynx. The food of these wliales, 

 consistin'2: as it does of small Crust; iccans, i-an readily enter the 

 compiiratively narrow pharynx and tind a passage down the 

 pharynx on each siile of the pipe (see text-fig. 73). 



Text-fig. 73. 



Transverse section (diiigraiinnatic) of the pharynx of a Mystacocete. 

 a = epiglottis; b = food-passage. 



In the Odontocete Physeter the phaiynx is fully four or five 

 times as large as that of a Balcenopiera of the same length, 

 and the pipe-like epiglottis, instead of being placed in the 

 miildle of the pharynx, is on the left side close against the left 

 wall of the latter. The pipe passes up into the nasopharyngeal 

 chambei', Avhich has alveolated walls ; as in Baheuopiei'cc, this 



Text-fiff. 74. 



Transverse section ((liagi:mini:itic) of tlic ))liaryn.\ of I'/n/xctcr. 

 a = epiglottis ; b = food-passage. 



chamber communicates with the jiosterior nares situated on the 

 left side of the skull. The comparatively huge animals eaten by 

 this whale, which are always swallowed whole, pass dow-n the 

 spacious ]>liaTynx only on the right side of the pipe, which is close 

 uft against the left wall .iihI leaves plenty of room for their transit 

 (.see text-lig. 74). 'L'iiiis llir |ili,'ivynx of /'/i//si((r in the region of 



