126 MAMMALIA. [Cuar. III. 
' Whilst Professor Owrn was advancing this conjecture, 
another comparative anatomist, from the examination of 
another portion of the structure of the elephant, was led 
to a somewhat similar conclusion. Dr. Harrison of 
Dublin had, in 1847, an opportunity of dissecting the 
body of an elephant which had suddenly died; and in 
the course of his examination of the thoracic viscera, he 
observed that an unusually close connection existed 
between the trachea and cesophagus, which he found to 
depend on a muscle-unnoticed by any previous anatomist, 
connecting the back of the former with the forepart of 
the latter, along which the fibres descend and can be dis- 
tinctly traced to the cardiac orifice of the stomach. 
The Trachea drawn 
over, bringing into 
view its posterior 
surface at the bi- 
furcation....... 
Pneumogastric 7 \ 
Nerves... meeen----20-- --~ 7 ; Csophagus. 
: me, ‘Trechetz 
sophageal 
Muscle. = 
ee Tlastic Tissue 
connecting Tra- 
ches soronent 
sophagus,an 
Trachea Cao 
phageal Muscle 
to the Dia 
phragm. 
a CK. ee 
Diaphragm “x WK WS WSs & WSs 
ACS ceoecS* 
Imperfectly acquainted with the habits and functions of 
the elephant in a state of nature, Dr. Harrison found it 
difficult to pronounce as to the use of this very peculiar 
