1862.] AND BILE OF THE VERTEBRATA. 135 



some of the smaller Felidse. In a new species of Lynx (F. macro- 

 celts) the gall-bladder was of a triangular shape, with a long narrow 

 twisted neck ; and I have seen nearly the same form in a young Lion at 

 birth. In the Ocelot (F. pardalis) the neck is coiled once round ; and 

 I have found a like shape in some of the smaller Cats. In the Otter 

 (^F. lutrd) it makes a half turn. I may remark that the form of the 

 gall-bladder can only be properly seen when it is distended with air. 

 In the Seals {Phocidce) (three species examined) it is of a pyri- 

 form shape, and very capacious. In the "Walrus (Trichechus) I also 

 found it large. 



I will mention the capacity of this organ in a few of the Carnivora, 

 in which I measured the bladder by filling it with water. The gall- 

 bladder of the Lioness which recently died at the Society's Gardens 

 contained five fluid ounces of bile ; that of a Polar Bear (JJrsus mari- 

 timus), four ounces ; Cape Hunting Dog (Lycaon pictus), one ounce ; 

 Clouded Tiger {F. macrocelides), seven drachms ; Ocelot {F, parda- 

 lis), seven drachms. In other animals of this order its capacity, in 

 relation to the size of the body, is about the same 



In the Marsupiata the gall-bladder is generally of a more rounded 

 form than in the last-named division, and of moderate capacity. In 

 the Tasmanian Wolf {Thylacmus), it held about seven drachms ; in 

 the Great Kangaroo (3Iacropus major), five drachms ; in the Red 

 Kangaroo (31. rubej'), about the same ; in the Tree Kangaroo {T)en- 

 drolagus inustus), about three drachms ; in the Halmaturus xantho- 

 pus, five drachms. In the Opossums, Dasyures, and Phalangers, 

 such as I have examined, the form and capacity, in relation to the 

 bulk of the quadruped, is nearly the same as in the above. 



In such of the Rodents as possess a gall-bladder I have generally 

 found it of a rounded or oval form, as in the Marmot {Arctomys al- 

 pinus), Hare {Lepus timidus), Rabbit (Z. cuniculus), Beaver (Castor 

 fiber). Agouti (Basyprocta), Common Mouse (Mus musculus). Com- 

 mon Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris). Grey Squirrel {S. carolinensis). West 



Indian Squirrel ( . ?), Flying Squirrel {S. volucella) . The capacity 



is moderate and tolerably uniform in the above. In the Beaver, chiefly 

 a ligneous feeder, the capacity is about two and one-half drachms. 



It was absent in the Capybara (Hydrochcerus capyhara), in the 

 Sciurus maximus, Jerboa (Dipus), and Musquash {Castor zibethiciis). 

 In other species of Rodents my attention was not directed to this 

 subject. Cuvier states that in the genus Mus the gall-bladder is ab- 

 sent ] but I think many exceptions will be found to this. 



Edentata. In the Great Anteater {Myrmecophaga jubata) I 

 found the gall-bladder capacious and of a somewhat pyramidal 

 shape ; in two species of Armadillo (six-banded and nine-banded) it 

 was more cylindrical ; in one of the Monotremata, the Ornitho- 

 rhyncus, it was very large, and its form pyramidal. 



The Absence of the Gall-bladder. — As far as I have gone, with the 

 exception of the Cheiroptera, about which I am unable to speak from 

 my own observations, as I omitted to look for this viscus in the Bri- 

 tish Bats and in many foreign species that I have dissected, all the 

 animals I have spoken of, excepting the Rodents already mentioned 



