566 MR. F. E. BEDDARD ON THE ANATOMY OF [May 26, 



I presume, the position of Meckel's diverticulum. In this case 

 the greater part of the intestine Avill he referable to the small 

 intestine and the colon will be short. The umbilical membrane, 

 however, is not limited to that portion of it which is attached 

 to the intestine. In spreads out and is continuous with the 

 omenta both great and small ; there is absolute continuity between 

 the umbilical membrane and the stomach and spleen. It would 

 appear therefore, that Phascologale macdonellensis, like the majority 

 of Marsupials, has an umbilical placenta. In relation to this I may 

 say that there was no connection whatever between this umbilical 

 cord and the bladder. The umbilicus itself lies rather in front 

 of the last rib, and is situated 10 mm. from the end of the 

 sternum ; it is, on the other hand, 28 mm. from the anus. 



One cannot but think that the case described here is ex- 

 ceptional, and that the genus or species generally is not 

 characterised by this persistent umbilical cord. It will be, 

 however, interesting to enquire how far the omentum is really 

 connected with the membranes of the fcetus in develoi^ment. 



The intestine, as already mentioned, is held in position by the 

 ligament derived from the persistent umbilical vesicle. It has 

 a simple course like that of many Lizards, and forms only one 

 loop upon itself as is shown in the drawing (text-fig. 113). It is 

 not without interest to notice that this single loop is rather like 

 the single loop thrown over the duodenal region during the 

 development of the human alimentary canal. 



The liver of this Marsupial differs in a few points from that 

 of Antechinomys . There is in the first place a considerable 

 Spigelian lobe ; the caudate is not so extensively prolonged over 

 the right kidney as it is in Antechinomys. Otherwise the liver 

 does not diflfer much. An examination of an example of the 

 larger species Phascolomys penicillata (for which I am also 

 indebted to Mr. Beck) shows the same characters. The liver of 

 /Sminthojjsis (of the species >S. crassicaudata and S. larapinta) 

 agrees more with that of Phascologale than of Antechinomys. 

 In the former at any rate the iSpigelian lobe was obvious. 



The spleen of Phascologale is unlike that of Antechinomys in 

 that the Marsupial triradiate form was obvious, particularly in 

 P. penicillata. In the smaller species described here the bifurcate 

 end of the spleen, that turned towards the left side of the body, 

 was rather in the form of a triangular expansion of the end 

 of the spleen, the base of the triangle lying towards the i-ight. 

 In Smioithopsis the spleen is more like that of Antechinomys, the 

 right expansion being little marked. 



As in Antechinomys the right kidney is much above the left, 

 and the same asymmetry is seen in Smintho2)sis. I examined 

 the female generative organs of P. j^enicHlata as well as of the 

 species which forms the subject of the present notes. The same 

 very strong dilatation of the distal end of each uterus that I 

 have described in Antechinomys was to be seen in both of these 

 species. It Avas very marked indeed in both. In the larger 



