314 



DRS HEPBURN AND WATERSTON ON THE 



immediately under cover of the blubber — we tied a fine canula having a lumen which 

 would admit the stilette of a dissector's blowpipe. Through this vessel we injected, by- 

 means of a gravitation pressure of about four feet, about two gallons of an arsenical 

 preservative to which 10 per cent, of formaldehyde had been added. The fluid took 

 several hours to run into the animal, the body meanwhile becoming firm and rigid, but 

 not in any way distended or deformed. The success of this method of preservation has 

 been apparent at every stage of the dissection. After seven months, the carcase is 

 still absolutely devoid of unpleasant odour, and no trace of decomposition is visible 

 anywhere. The blood has been everywhere coagulated in the vessels, which are thus 

 filled with a natural solid injection mass. The viscera have been fixed so as to retain 

 their natural shapes and relationships. The tissues are all in perfect condition for 

 undergoing further treatment in preparation for the microscope, with the exception of a 

 slight desquamation of a few superficial cells from the mucous membrane of the 

 alimentary canal. In our examination of this animal, therefore, we are in a position 

 to present observations, made under conditions which we believe to be unique, which 

 give results of a thoroughly reliable kind, besides being in many respects entirely novel 

 and which no doubt account for differences between our results and those of former 

 observers. 



External Appearances. — The animal, which was a male, presented the character- 

 istic features of its genus as regards its rounded muzzle, its teeth, the comparatively 

 high position of its fore limbs upon its sides, the colour of its body and appendages, the 

 tuberculated border of its dorsal fin, etc. The following measurements were recorded 

 before the preservative fluid was injected : — 



Length from tip of muzzle to centre of tail, 



,, from muzzle to vent, 



„ from vent to centre of tail, 



,, of oral cleft, 



„ from muzzle to anterior edge of root of flipper 



„ from muzzle to dorsal fin, 



,, of flipper, 

 Width of tail, 

 Girth of tail at root, 



Distance between genito-urinary cleft and vent, 

 Length of base of dorsal fin, 

 Height of dorsal fin, 

 Distance from external angle of eye to external 



auditory meatus, ....... 2 „ 051 „ 



There were nowhere any traces of hair, and no evidence of an external ear, while 

 the external auditory meatus would not admit the stem of a wax vesta. As the adult 

 porpoise is usually from four to five feet long, although it may reach a length of six feet, 

 the present specimen may be regarded as slightly under its full growth. 



In the present communication we desire to confine our attention to that part of the 

 alimentary system contained within the cavity of the abdomen. 



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