Material foe the Study of Ruminants. 



23 



renient for carnivorous and omnivorous animals to lose it, as none of 

 them (except the whales) have reduced it, The lack of the gall-bladder 

 in Getacea might be a characteristic inherited from their ancestors, which 

 may have had a différèrent diet (compare the complex stomach). 



A consequence of such a theory is that the gall-bladder may 

 within the same group or even genus become reduced independently 

 of the condition found in other members of the same group. 



The kidneys of Gephalophus melanorlmms are small, almost pear- 

 shaped w ith the narrow end directed backwards. Their axial length 

 is about 3 cm. and the diameters of the anterior thicker end about 2 

 cm. When they are cut they show only one longitudinal mammilla. 



The spleen of Gephalophus melanorhoeus is strongly convex as 

 in the Cervicornia and some other primitive ruminants but it is trian- 

 gular in outline wherein its shape somewhat approaches the same of 

 the ovine tribe; compare the figure (fig. 0. Pl. I) and also the descrip- 

 tion of the same organ in the foetus. 



Notes on the morphological development of some foetal specimens 

 of Gephalophus melanorhoeus, ogilbyi and silvicultor. 



The material to the following study I have had the pleasure of 

 receiving from my friend Mr. G. Linnell, who has kindly sent it 

 home from the Gainerons, and I wish therefore to express my grati- 

 tude to him. 



1) A foetus of Gephalophus sp., probably melanorhoeus, g a. Mea- 

 suring from the forehead to the anus 01 mm. and from the snout to 

 the occiput 24 mm. It is not in a very good condition, but the viscera 

 seem, however, to be pretty well preserved (comp, figs 12 & 13). 

 When the abdominal cavity is opened the liver seems to be the pre- 

 dominant organ. Fissura umbilicalis is situated in the median line and 

 the liver reaches perfectly across from right to left extending from 

 the diaphragma on the left side of the median line more than half 

 way to the pelvis (11 mm.) and on the right side (14 mm.) almost to 

 the pelvis. Between the liver and the groin on the right side the 

 colic spiral is seen quite pressed to the abdominal wall. Laterally from 

 the colic spiral a portion of the left kidney is seen and in front of it 

 a portion of the ventricle (the paunch). Behind the kidney the testicle 

 is situated. On the right side the liver occupies nearly the whole vi- 

 sible area but quite dorsilaterally the kidney is seen and behind the 



