i66 
Mr. Home on the Structure of the Stomachs 
its stomach completely, there is reason to believe that the 
beaver does so likewise, and that neither of them ruminate, 
since the regurgitation of the food would be attended with 
difficulty from the situation of these glandular structures ; and 
it is probable, as they do not ruminate, the increased secretion 
of a solvent liquor renders it unnecessary. 
The changes the food undergoes in these stomachs are only 
two; it is acted on by the secretion from the solvent glands, 
and afterwards converted into chyle by the secretion of those 
near the pylorus. This is a less complex process than in many 
of the stomachs not yet taken notice of, and is exactly similar 
to what takes place in carnivorous animals; it may therefore 
be considered as a connecting link between the ruminating 
and carnivorous stomachs. 
After these, which form a regular series from the ruminants, 
are the stomachs with cuticular reservoirs, in which the food 
is macerated, before it is submitted to the process of digestion. 
Animals of this kind are the water-rat, in which there is a 
permanent division between the cuticular cavity and the di- 
gestive part of the stomach ; the common rat and the mouse, 
in which there is only a muscular one. The cuticular lining is 
thick and impervious ; beyond it is a glandular part, that 
secretes a mucus found adhering to its surface ; and further 
on are orifices, which appear to belong to the solvent glands. 
These animals do not ruminate, and there is a kind of provi- 
sion in nature to prevent regurgitation of the food. When 
kept without food for several days they completely empty 
their stomachs. 
The horse and the ass, although animals in all other res- 
