210 



DR. P. CHALMERS MITCHELL ON THE 



conform with the general mammalian plan. The presence of the 

 paired cteca, on my view that paired cfcca are a primitive mam- 

 malian feature, does not help us with the placing of the group. 

 The most striking resemblances are with the patterns displayed 

 by the Edentate group Xenarthra and the Manatee among the 

 Sirenia. But it must be remembered that the common possession 

 of a primitive simplicity is no guide to affinity. 



Order Proboscidea. Elephas maximus (text-fig. 14). 



I have been able to examine the intestines of a. young Indian 

 Elephant, and I find that the pattern, in all essential respects, is 

 identical with wliiit I have already figured for the African 



Text-figure 14. ^ 



Intestinal tract ot J^Jlephas maximus. 



S. Cut end of grit next stomach. R. Ciit end of gut next anus. C. Cfficuni. 

 C.L. 2. Colic loop (ansa coli sinistra). 



Elephant (Mitchell, 1905, fig. 16). There is a sejjarate duo- 

 denum ; Meckel's tract is supported on a nearly circular expanse 

 of mesentery, its proximal portion being thrown into numerous 

 minor loops, a,nd its distal portion, forming the first part of the 

 recurrent limb, is inserted to the dorsal edge of a moderately 

 large conical caecum. The hind-gut is not much shorter than the 

 fore-gut, is of larger calibre, and thrown into comparatively 



