406 SULA BASSANA. 



than the head, opening to beyond tlic eyes, straight, of an 

 elongated, conical form, moderately compressed, slightly 

 deflected at the tip. Upper mandible with the dorsal outline 

 straight and dcclinate, at the end a little decurved ; the ridge 

 very broad, convex, separated on each side by a groove from 

 the sides, Mliich are nearly erect, slightly convex, and are 

 jointed at the base to a narrow supplemental piece placed 

 below the eye ; the edges sharp, direct, irregularly-jagged 

 with numerous slender fissures directed backwards ; the tip 

 a little decurved, compressed, and sharp-edged, but rounded 

 horizontally. Lower mandible with the angle very long and 

 narrow, the dorsal outline straight and ascending, the sides 

 erect and convex, the edges sharp and direct, the tip com- 

 pressed and acute. A bare membrane extends from between 

 the crura of the loAver mandible, down the throat, narrow, 

 and ending acutely. A membrane round the base of the bill, 

 occupying also the loral spaces, and surrounding the eyes. 



The tongue presents the appearance of a small oblong, 

 posteriorly emarginate knob, a quarter of an inch only in 

 length. There are five sharp ridges on the roof of the mouth. 

 The nasal aperture is an inch and a half in length, linear, 

 with a soft longitudinal flap on each side. The aperture of 

 the glottis seven-twelfths long, with the edges smooth, and 

 having behind two transverse curved smooth edges. The 

 oesophagus fifteen inches long, to the proventriculus, which 

 is three inches in length. It is extremely wide, nearly uni- 

 form in diameter, dilatable to four inches,but when moderately 

 inflated about two inches wide, and half an inch less at its 

 entrance into the thorax. Its inner coat is smooth and even, 

 but when contracted forms strong longitudinal plaits. The 

 proventriculus two and a half inches in Avidth, but dilatable 

 to four and a half; its glandules oblong-cylindrical, three- 

 twelfths long, disposed in two roundish masses, separated by 

 one interval of about five-twelfths. The stomach is, compara- 

 tively, very small, being only an inch and three-fourths in 

 length, and nearly of the same breadth ; its muscular coat 

 very thin, with tAvo small roundish tendons, about three- 

 twelfths in diameter. The mucous coat is very soft and 

 smooth, with several large gastric crypts. The pylorus has a 



