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Show 386 MR. ST. GEORGE MIVART AND DR. J. MURIE [June 26, There is little difference in the liver, except that the posterior surface of the left lobe has several superficial sulci, possibly a mere individual peculiarity. The gall-bladder is 1| inch long, extending beyond the margin of the right division of the cystic lobe, and not deeply buried in a fissure as in D. aguti. The heart * has the slight tendency to a double apex remarked by Prof. Owen in D. acuschy. The lungs have the same number of divisions as in the allied species. The kidneys answer Owen's description of these organs in D. acuschy, rather than that of Jones in D. aguti, not possessing the separated portion spoken of by the latter observer. The external organs of generation and anus are closely approxi-mated, indeed almost forming a cloaca. The urethra (p. 406. fio-. 4, U) opens about '2 inch in front of the vulva. The latter (fig. 4, V) lies *4 inch in front of the anus, and its lips exhibit numerous folds. The anal opening (fig. 4, A) has immediately behind it a semilunar fold of skin, the convexity of which is posterior. On either side of the anus the fold of membrane forms a deep pouch lined with short hairs, and having numerous minute openings of muciparous glands, and others which give exit to the ceruminous secretion of the anal scent-glands (pp. 406, 410. figs. 4 & 5, A.g). These anal glands are two in number, and prominently situated one on each side of and rather behind the external genitals. They are almond-shaped, and each about an inch in length, and their structure consists of many larger and smaller cavities divided by fibrous walls. The interiors of these cavities or loculi are lined by mucous membrane, which abundantly secretes the viscid yellow substance which is not unlike the cerumen of the earf. Each gland opens, as above said, by numerous apertures into one of the pouches of the semilunar-like fold. The figure (fig. 4) which we have given shows the appearance of these glands and the neighbouring parts in a partially dissected condition, and in a female specimen. Their outward or tegumentary aspect in the male animal is admirably depicted by John Hunter's artists, Bell and Rymscyk, in the fourth volume of the ' Illustrated Physiological Catalogue of the College of Surgeons,' plates 52 and 53. The urinary bladder is a narrow elongated pyriform-shaped viscus, about 3 inches in the length of its cavity ; but the distance from the fundus to the orifice of the urethra is altogether about 6 inches, the part, however, which may be regarded as the neck being comparatively wide: this at least was the case in our female specimen. The ureters open on either side of the bladder, not far from the fundus. The vagina is rather wide, and 3\ inches in length from the os to the vulva. The mucous membrane is longitudinally plicated all this distance. * Dr. Crisp states that this organ in the Hare is nearly five times the weight of that of the Kabbit, the lungs of the former nearly four times as heary, and the calibre of the trachea nearly four times as great (P. Z. S. 1861, p. So). t As Prof. Eymer Jones has already remarked (P. Z. S. 1834, p. 82). |
