168 Mr. Home on the Structure of the Stomachs 
formed. The food in this stomach goes through several pre- 
paratory processes ; it is macerated in the cuticular portion ; 
it has the secretion from the pouch at the cardia mixed with 
U ; and is occasionally ruminated. Thus prepared, it is acted 
on by the secretion of the solvent glands, which probably 
are those met with in clusters in the course of the longitudinal 
bands and afterwards converted by the secretions near the 
pylorus into chyle. 
The animals, whose stomachs have processes or pouches at 
their cardiac extremity, are the kanguroo, hog, pecari, hippo- 
potamus, and elephant. 
The pecari’s stomach bears the nearest resemblance to those 
with cuticular reservoirs, having a portion of its surface lined 
with cuticle ; but it only extends to a small distance from the 
termination of the oesophagus, and is not continued over any 
part of the great curvature. 
The hippopotamus’s stomach I have never seen, and Dau- 
benton’s description and engravings are taken from that of a 
fetus ; so that the structure of its minute parts is imperfectly 
known ; but there is no doubt of there being a large pouch on 
each side of the cardiac portion, and there is reason to believe 
that no part of the cavity of the stomach is lined with cuticle. 
The elephant’s stomach is the most simple of this kind. It 
has no cuticular lining ; the elongation at the cardia is only 
a continuation of the general cavity, distinguished from it by 
the membranous septa; and the broad one may act as a valve, 
and occasionally preclude the food from passing. 
In these stomachs the pouches at the cardia can only be 
connected with the preparation of the food, softening it by 
means of their secretions, or retaining it within their cavities;. 
