OCR Text |
Show 104 MR. A. D. BARTLETT ON THE BIRTH OF [Jail. 2 1, of 2-f inches, divides into the right and left common carotids. This disposition is very much like that of the Llama as drawn by Prof. Owen. The thickness of the ventricular septum is 1| inch. The lungs are extremely simple, coniform, and undivided, except at their apices, where, as in many animals, they send down small lobes which overlap the auricles of the heart. They are nearly equal in size, being 25 inches long by 15 deep and 5 broad. They weigh each 9-5 lb. (uncongested). The uterus is two-horned. The corpus uteri is 3£ inches long by 2\ inches broad ; the cornua are 16\ inches, by 2 inches broad ; they are both very distinctly longitudinally plicated. The os uteri is much folded, and the orifice is quite small; from it to the orifice of the urethra is 12 inches. The vagina is lined with a squamous epithelium, and it presents a few transverse folds about 3 inches apart. Its circumference in the middle is 15 inches, at its orifice 9 inches. The urethra is 2 inches long, and admits two fingers. The length of the elongate fringed orifices of the Fallopian tubes is 5 inches. The clitoris and vulva are similar to those of the Indian species. 3. On the Birth of a Sumatran Rhinoceros. By A. D. B A R T L E T T , Superintendent of the Society's Gardens. [Peceived January 7, 1873.] (Plate XI.) The steamship ' Orchis' arrived at the Victoria Docks from Singapore on December 7, 1872, having on board an adult female Sumatran Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros sumatrensis). About 7 o'clock in the evening of that day the keeper was surprised to hear a feeble squeaking voice proceeding from the den containing the Rhinoceros. He was soon made aware of the cause of this small voice ; for upon examining the den he found the beast had produced a young one, which was still fixed or attached by the umbilical cord ; and while looking at it he distinctly saw the mother turn her head towards the young one and with her teeth bite or sever the connecting band. He found also that the mother, who had been always rather savage, appeared quite quiet and, as he called it, perfectly tamed ; she allowed him to enter her den and milk her, and afterwards place the young one in a position that enabled it to suck. Having carefully closed the canvas all round and over the den, he left, thinking that rest and quietness would perhaps be desirable for the then tired and exhausted mother. It appears, however, that the little Rhinoceros was not inclined to be shut up in the den, and was found soon afterwards walking about in the dark and rain on the deck of the ship. The cold and wet had produced the effect of almost depriving it of the use of its limbs ; it was soon restored by being rubbed all over and placed in warm blankets. On the following morning I found the mother and young one on board the ship and about to be landed. I advised having the |