574 MR. F. E. BEDDAKD OX THE ANATOMY OF [May 26, 



It is possible that the secondary attachment of the omentum 

 to the colon bears some relation to the formation of the permanent 

 loops of the colon. For this attachment at least offers a fixed 

 and more or less immovable area or length, which would permit 

 of unequal growth in this as compared with neighbouring tracts 

 of intestine. Further contractions of the omentum during its 

 growth would obviously tend to emphasise such loops and would 

 act in the direction of rendering them more permanent. In any 

 case it is important to notice that where there are no fixed ansae 

 coli, there is at least frequently no secondary attachment of the 

 omentum to the colon. This is the case for example with 

 Carnivora, and with Carnivorous Marsupials, with Armadillos, 

 and Insectivora *. This rule, however, is not universal in its 

 application ; for among the Apes, where there are no definite 

 ansje coli, there is an attachment of the omentum to the colon. 

 On the other hand, where there are well-defined ansfe the 

 omentum is as a rule found to be inserted upon one of the ansae. 

 The more exact relations in a number of Mammals are as 

 follows : — Among the Lemurs where there is one colic fold, 

 whether simple or forming a spiral, the omentum is invariably 

 attached to the distal limb of the loop or spiral t. Among 

 Rodents I found that in Lcujostomus the omentum was attached 

 along the colon from the beginning of the distal limb of 

 the ansa ■paracoicalis to the end of the proximal limb of 

 the ansa coli dextra. In Hystrix cristata the omentum is 

 attached along one half of the distal limb of the ansa coli dextra, 

 the ansa coli sinistra having no such connection. In Sciurus 

 maximus, however, where the same two ansfe are present, there 

 is no such insertion of the omentum. These facts do not appear 

 to have been dealt with by Tullberg in the Rodents. 



The lesser omentum of human anatomists is called by Klaatsch 

 ligamentum hepatogastro-duodenale. It is the ventral membrane 

 of the gvit. This is universally represented among Mammals. 

 The posterior continuation of this, however, the ligamentum 

 hepato-cavoduodenale, is not universal. The cavo-duodenal part 

 of this has already been i-eferred to in various mammals. The 

 ventral portion of the membrane, the hepatoduodenale, now 

 requires some consideration. This is described by Klaatsch in 

 Echidna, and sought for without finding it in certain Marsupials. 

 On the other hand, it is stated to be present in various Carnivora, 

 Rodents, and Lemurs. I found this as a distinct membrane 

 very plainly to be seen in Ursios syriacics. It is to be noted 

 that in this Carnivore the caudate lobe of the liver is prolonged 

 down to the level of the duodenal loop. And thus thei'e was a 

 possibility, so to speak, of finding the membrane, which indeed 

 was slight though unmistakable and connected the extremity 



* I do not, of course, put forward this nou-attacliment of the omentum as an 

 entirely new fact. 



t Klaatsch, loc. cit. p. 667, fig. 11, would regard the omentum as occupj'ing the 

 interspace of the loop also. I am not convinced of this. 



