174 
On the Respiratory Organs and Air Bladder 
QJuira 
Organs of Digestion. The alimentary canal is continued in a straight line from 
the mouth to the anus, and measures about three-fourths of the whole length of the 
body. The esophagus is considerably longer than in the eel or fishes in general, and 
presents, internally, longitudinal folds of a white colour. The stomach, which is slight- 
ly dilated at its middle, is distinguished from the former by its more muscular parietes, 
and the red villous appearance of the internal lining coat : towards the pylorus, 
where it is separated from the intestine by a valve, it is contracted in diameter, 
and is of a white colour. The latter part of the canal exhibits upon its internal 
surface, short villous processes, arranged in a zigzag manner, and is divided by an 
annular projection of the internal coat into two portions, of which the last (or the 
part corresponding to the rectum), although shorter, is considerably more ca- 
pacious, than tiie anterior oi’ duodenal portion. The liver is of a narrow elongated 
figure, attached to the side of the stomach, and has several deep transverse fur* 
rows upon its inferior surface : the gall bladder, which is of an oval shape, lies 
near its posterior extremity, on the side next to the stomach, and sends out a long 
cystic duct, that opens upon the internal surface of the intestine, immediately 
behind the pjlorus. There is a long chain of small quadrangular shaped spleens, 
covered by a thin reflection of the peritoneum, and joined at their bases to a blood- 
vessel of considerable size, which extends throughout their length by the side of 
the intestine. J 
Urinary Organs. The kidnies, as in fishes, are long narrow glands, of a dark 
colour, running along the side of the vertebral column, and closely attached to it, 
as tar as the anterior extremity of the abdomen. The bladder is 'of an elongated 
shape, and receives the secretion of the kidnies by two ureters opeuimr into it at 
its fundus. r b 
Organs of Generation. Those of the male are two long ducts of a greyish colour, 
possessing a number of lateral tortuous branches, that adhere to the external 
surface of a part of the first portion of the intestine. In the female there is a 
single pyriform ovarium, containing numerous ova, of various sizes and colours, 
apparently in different stages of fecundation ; and hence it may be inferred that 
the animal is vivaparous. They terminate along with the urinary organs in a 
cloaca or common cavity, the external outlet of which, lies immediately behind 
the anus. The air~bladder is wanting. 
Bones. The cranium is articulated with the first vertebra by two occipital con- 
} es, one on each side below the foramen magnum , and also by a single tubercle 
0 ie body ot the vertebra, as in the osseous fishes. The bones entering into the 
formation of the mouth, resemble those of fishes. The superior maxillary one is 
ong, s enc er, and ot a curved figure, having its convex side presented outwards : 
1 is joined above to the malar bone, and below to the coronoid process of the 
myei jaw. 1 he latter consists of two strong pieces slightly incurvated, and firmly 
m ec a ieir sjmphisis by cartilage : each piece being formed by two bones, 
i° Se fr together. Both jaws are furnished with teeth, the largest being 
P ^ n . e . 111 , e P a * atine arches above ; they are fixed in alveolar cavities, are sharp 
poin ec , and of a hook tonn, hut do not possess any structure resembling the 
u u ar fangs of serpents, to confirm the opinion entertained by the natives, of 
»e venemous nature of the bite of the animal. The branchial arches are situate 
e unti the head, at the sides of the four anterior cervical vertebra, and possess a 
t,T:? artllagin0US structure > exhibiting, when held up to the light, several de- 
® w? “ Se °w- ? ie ? es ’ of an irregular figure, imbedded in a semi-transparent 
. f u h the exception of the first or anterior arch, which is fixed to the 
f u ° ie of the os hyoides, all the others are articulated below to their 
.. ws ° ! e °PP°site side. r Ihe first and second are composed, each of one 
i a - re free at their s11 Perior or vertebral extremities, presenting the ap- 
L;- cc °; k ein £ suspended in the membrane of the pharynx; while the third and 
tn * *?! , ° P ost enor ones, have very minute superior limbs, which are attached 
running j J) “ ar yngeal bone, connected through the medium of a long and flat muscle, 
& ween the membrane of the back part of the mouth and the inferior 
] e f to y thVlast tW ° ot,lers > co ' nin 8‘ from tl)e s ' Jes of the chest. Paral- 
blunt and of -i , n Ji V ° , 0the . l ' s ’ ? ue 0,1 ® acI » si(le beneath the lateral line. The head is 
is depressed shm-f J l° S ,' ZO ’ but SW ° S out when the aniinaI is irritated. The snout 
are, lie^r the enr nf H ^ P ro J ectin g a Kttle beyond the under jaw. The nostrils 
are near the umlr nn i ‘W*’ * e, ^ snia f I > and each has only one aperture. The eyes 
line forms an XSh £3? 0< * 1 a ^ ead ’ US ,S a,SO the a P erture to the gills. The lateral 
tail ends in .. «!,-?, B *? 1 f>. and t,ien r «n« straight along the middle of the side. The 
Hamilton on J r ishJf^n ,U lf: >S corn P resse d} and has sharp edges above and below. — 
