THE STOMACH OF THE POEPOISE. 407 



the transverse processes of the twenty- eighth and twenty- 

 ninth vertebrae (counting from the first dorsal) the ai)on- 

 eui'osis is so stout as to form an almost distinct fibrous 

 band, which occupies the place of an ilium. The ureter lies 

 between the ischio-vei-tebral fascia and the peritoneum. 



The teeth ai-e smaU and nimierous, and their crowns are 

 obtuse and constricted. The passage of the pharynx is 

 divided in the middle, the soft palate being prolonged into 

 a muscular funnel, the opening of which closely fits the 

 constricted neck of the long cone into which the epiglottis 

 and the arytenoid cai-tilages are produced. Thus the 

 arrangement which is transitory in the Marsupial is per- 

 manent in the Cetacean. 



The stomach is divided into three sacs. The first is large, 

 conical, and Lined by a coai'se white epithelial coat. The 

 gullet opens directly into it. The second stomach com- 

 municates with the first by an apei-ture which is close to 

 the cardiac end of the gullet, and is surrounded by a very 

 prominent ragose lip. A curved passage about one inch 

 long and capable of admitting the finger, lined by a white 

 epithelium similar to that of the first, leads into the second 

 stomach. The second stomach is lined by an extremely 

 vascular and soft mucous membrane, with about ten strong 

 longitudinal folds, separated by deep sulci, inteiTupted by 

 transverse ridges. A narrow and curved canal leads from 

 this into the third stomach, which has a tubular form and 

 is bent upon itself. Its lining membrane is quite smooth. 

 A small, circular, pyloric aperture places this in com- 

 munication with the dilated commencement of the duo- 

 denum, which has sometimes been regarded as a foiu-th 

 stomach. Its lining membrane presents longitudinal rugse 

 continuous with those of the duodenum itself. The con- 

 joined pancreatic and biliary ducts open just beyond the 

 dilated pai-t of the duodenum. There is no ccecum, or 

 demarcation between the large and small intestines. The 

 bilobed liver has no gall bladder. 



In the heart the fossa ovalis is distinct, but there is 

 neither Eustachian nor Thebesian valve. The vena cava 



