t 85 ] 
IV. A Report on the stomach of the Zariffa. By Sir Everard Home, Bart., 
Vice-President of the Royal Society . 
Read December 24, 1829. 
Having submitted to the King the following- report upon the stomach of 
the Zariffa, I am sanctioned by His Majesty’s entire approbation in laying it 
before the Royal Society. 
The stomach consists of four cavities, like those of all quadrupeds that chew 
the cud. The internal surface of the paunch differs in nothing from that of 
the bullock, but in the projecting parts being more prominent. In the second 
cavity the cells met with in other ruminants are too superficial to retain water. 
The third and fourth cavities in every respect resemble those of the bullock. 
The more minute structures of these parts are distinctly shown in the an- 
nexed Plates. 
As the only peculiarities in the Zariffa’s stomach are in the second cavity, 
comparative views are given of this cavity with that in the bullock and sheep. 
In considering the structure of the different parts of the stomach of rumi- 
nating animals, there can be no doubt that any peculiarity met with in par- 
ticular tribes is to serve the purpose of enabling them more readily to subsist 
upon the food which is intended by nature for their use. Of this the reservoirs 
for water in the stomach of the camel are a remarkable instance. In the bul- 
lock and sheep the cud formed of grass in its return after the second mastica- 
tion into the stomach is rendered dry, and when it drops into the second 
cavity requires being re-moistened before it can be spread between the membra- 
nous folds of the third cavity ; this is effected by the water contained in the 
cells with which this cavity is furnished. In the Zariffa the cud formed from the 
leaves and twigs of the acacia is so succulent as not to require being again 
moistened in passing through the second stomach, and therefore that cavity 
in this animal is not furnished with cells of the same depth as in the other 
animals that chew the cud. 
